mKey is a digital banking service unveiled by Equity bank’s sister company – Finserve Africa a few months ago that works just like other loan apps in existence. It runs on android operating system and touts to include additional functionality in comparison with similar services on the market including chatting with friends, paying bills, reading news, applying for loans and saving. The app which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store has an inbuilt keyboard through which users can access custom emojis and Gifs that users may use while chatting with others.

 While mKey is meant for loan applications; it comes with additional related features that let users complete several transactions on the app rather than having to transfer money to different mobile wallets or even withdraw before paying utility bills,purchasing airtime or even shopping. And if you don’t need the loan facility, mKey accounts, can be topped up using Mpesa, Equitel or deposits through Equity bank agents. While we expect the service to even support diaspora remittances at a later date, mKey is pretty feature rich in comparison with similar android loan apps.

How to apply for an mKey Loan

To be precise, mKey has a mobile wallet account that’s not linked to your bank account and allows users to buy airtime, buy goods, pay bills, send money via social media and save.

• As with any other loan app, users first need to have an android phone, then download the app from Google’s Play Store
• Once you’ve installed the mKey app, you’ll need to provide some details through a simple registration process. To do this, You’ll need a Facebook or a Google account.
• During the registration process, you’ll to provide personal details such as a mobile number, government ID and later confirm your email address.
• After completing the above process, the mKey app will let you know how much money you can borrow. The amount should range from Ksh.300 to Ksh. 1 Million. The maximum amount one can borrow depends on the borrower’s credit score, repayment history, transactions among other factors.
• mKey loans attract an interest rate of 9%.

mKey digital banking service Transaction Costs /Tariffs

No transaction costs on mkey to mkey, mkey Balance Enquiry, mkey Mini-statement and mkey Deposit

mKey Statement by Email cost is Ksh.20 fixed
mKey to RTGS Cost is Ksh. 550 fixed
mKey ATM Withdrawal Cost is Ksh.30 fixed
mKey to SWIFT transaction Cost is Ksh.1650 fixed

In a bid to stop tax evasions, the Kenya Revenue Authority modified the iTax system to net individuals trying to evade paying taxes by simply filing Nil returns on the iTax portal. As a result, tax payers who intent to declare Nil tax returns will henceforth be required to indicate that they do not have any other source of income. This will essentially aid Kenya’s revenue agency profile users in order to easily weed out evaders.  As per the Kenyan law, any person bearing a personal Identification number (PIN), is required to file tax returns annually including those that do not have any form of employment.

In the past, we could easily get away with not filing returns at all, but the tax man has since placed heavy penalties on those who fail to do so, ranging from Ksh. 20,000 on wards. For a common mwanainchi who resides in Kenya without a stable formal employment, this could be quite a burden. I’ve therefore devised a simple guide for tax payers who would like to file nil tax returns on the KRA’s iTax system. And from the title I say ‘genuine’ to refer to those who qualify or have had no income in that year.

To start with, I’d advise anyone to file tax returns early in the year to avoid last minute instability usually experienced on the KRA’s portal.You could be slapped with heavy penalties to as much as Ksh 20000 for not doing so regardless of whose fault it is.

A simple Guide to filing Nil tax returns on the iTax portal

Before you start filing, you’ll need a P9 form for those who are employed, usually given by the employer. On the iTax system, you’ll need to login (https://itax.kra.go.ke/KRA-Portal/) using provided password that you set or were issued when applying for the personal Identification number.

You may need to reset your password if it’s not working. Password reset details will be sent to your email address.

• To file Nil tax returns, head over to the ‘returns’menu and select ‘File Nil Return’
• Next, confirm you didn’t have any income for the year you are filing returns
• Select the year usually from 1^stJanuary to 31^st December of previous year.
• Just so you know, if you’re caught filing nil returns while you’ve had income in that year, KRA will be on your neck.

The Postal Corporation of Kenya started offering Clearing and Forwarding services as part of its ambition to diversify their offering and tap into the growing e-commerce sector rather than relying on traditional mail services alone. As a requirement, Posta Cargo is registered by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to offer clearing and forwarding services that will see customers get full logistical services for items imported through Posta Parcel and EMS services.

This comes after rumors emerged the firm was planning to partner with various e-commerce giants such as Alibaba and Amazon aimed at boosting its earnings through diversified service offerings. Most Kenyans have turned to multinational e-commerce sites to purchase items that are not readily available locally such as spare parts and other electronics. According to the firm, Posta Cargo customers will no longer have to pick their packages at KRA offices but rather have them delivered wherever they are. Postal Corporation of Kenya has since commissioned a warehouse at the Kenya Ports Authority docks in Mombasa

CLEARING & FORWARDING RATES WEIGHT BASED

AIR FREIGHT CLEARANCE

SEA FREIGHT CLEARANCE

CLEARING AND FOWARDING RATES BASED ON CIF VALUE

CATEGORY A: Goods Imported through Sea Freight

CATEGORY B: Goods Imported through Airfreight)

All the Charges are Exclusive of VAT

Christmas just came early for Airtel Kenya customers after the mobile operator unveiled Chapa Stori Na Bob campaign that would see subscribers spent only Ksh. 1 on calls across all networks while no charges within its network all day long. The initiate according to Airtel Kenya is aimed at having its customers continue with conversations with family members and friends without worrying about disconnections.

Precisely, ChapaStoriNaBob will see Airtel Kenya subscribers make calls to any network within the country such as Telkom and Safaricom for Ksh 1 bob billed per minute for 24 hours, while those made within its network billed at 0 bob.

How to use Airtel Kenya ChapaStoriNaBob Promotion

The holiday’s season offer is categorized into two bundles;the cheapest bundle attracts Kshs15 valid for 24 hours and Kshs 30 bundle that offers customers the same benefits with a validity of three days. All ChapaStori bundles come with free 100 minutes for all Airtel to Airtel calls per day.

• First, you need to have an Airtel Kenya line
• You can then purchase these bundles directly onyour phone by dialing *544*15#  for theKsh 15 bundle or *544*30# for the Ksh.30 bundle.

Speaking on during the launch event, Airtel Kenya’s Managing Director, Prasanta Das Sarma indicated he was delighted to offer customers the opportunity to stay connected to their loved ones during the festive season without worrying about high call rates that would put a dent in their pockets.

“We know that many of our customers will be taking time off to rest and reconnect with friends and family during the festive season.Therefore, we are happy to be launching this new campaign that is unmatched as it allows our customers to talk worry-free,” he stated.

Airtel Kenya continues to upgrade its countrywide network to 4G while further expanding and improving network coverage across the country.So far, Airtel Kenya has some of the most interesting offers on the market including the Amazing Data bundles with free WhatsApp and the SMS product dubbed ‘Tutext’, ChapaStoriNaBob campaign will run until the end of January 2019.

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KCB M-Pesa customers can now top-up their loans by borrowing several times within the credit limit assigned to them without having to first clear outstanding balances. Assuming you have a credit limit of Ksh.5000, and currently servicing an existing KCB M-Pesa loan of Ksh.2000, you can now borrow up to Ksh.3000 without having to first clear the initial loan as required before. This is now possible after an upgrade to the old KCB M-Pesa system where borrowers could only take another loan after clearing the outstanding balances.

According to KCB, the upgrade has also enabled users to rollover their loans to the next month, a feature that was missing on the old KCB M-Pesa platform. Basically what this means is; instead of being limited to 30days, In the event that your loan is not repaid in full within thirty (30)days, your loan will be automatically rolled over together with any outstanding amount in respect of the principal, interest and negotiation fees. This shall continue to be the case until all amounts owed are fully repaid. However, In the event that you do not repay the loan in full within sixty (60) days from the date when the loan was first granted, you will be liable to pay a late repayment penalty fee of 10% of any outstanding principal, interest, negotiation fees and any other fees payable under the KCB M-PESA.

“We are continually re-imagining digital finance. There is need for us to embrace innovation and digitization beyond our current realm of operations,” said KCB Group chief executive Joshua Oigara.

How to Rollover KCB M-Pesa Loan Repayment Period to Up to 60

• As indicated above, all you need to do is ensure you do not exceed 60 days from the date when the loan was first granted.

KCB has also unveiled a holiday season promotion that will see Loans borrowed and repaid within the same day via KCB M-Pesa attract a zero(0) percent interest. Meaning if you borrowed Ksh.10,000 and repaid within the same day, you wouldn’t pay any additional charges but the exact amount Ksh.10,000. This promo will run between 18th Dec 2018 and Jan 17th 2018.  

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Each year comes with it’s own business opportunities and establishments are in no way leaving anything to chances, just after we discovered plans by Uber to launch on Kenya’s popular Matatu mini buses, Little has started to experiment the feature in parts of Nairobi with Little Shuttle. The firm, which is Kenyan – owned, is expected to roll out in masses in few months getting the very much needed heads-up considering the marketing financial muscle Uber has. Being the early bird has tremendous advantages, but it doesn’t always guarantee success, Little Shuttle could just cover some real ground before expecting competition from rivals Uber and Taxify. Nairobi’s transport sector is heavily controlled by Mini-buses commonly referred to as ‘Matatu’ that ply various routes from the town.

How Little Shuttle Works

 Little Shuttle will enable riders book seats in a 33-seater minibus at specific times of the day rather than using traditional cabs. The trick in finding a soft spot for consumers in Kenya has mostly been associated with costs. Cabs are expensive to the common Kenyan, how about reliably allowing those who can’t afford them instead use matatus’. The new service targets riders who would otherwise use their vehicles to move around. Just like you’d book a bus ticket to ‘Shags’ or Coast, Little Shuttle allows you to reserve a seat in one of the 33 seater mini-buses and board at specified time/route, except this time is within Nairobi.

We understand Uber is as well in the final stages of rolling out the feature in Nairobi after it started tests in Egypt and Mexico.

Little has since piloted the service in parts of Nairobi’s routes i.e. Kangemi and Nextgen route. This is in part with help from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to ensure they comply with the law.

According to Kamal Budhabhatti, the founder of Craft Silicon that owns Little, he expects the platform to be fine-tuned and customized during the pilot phase to solve real city problems. “For our pilot and also as we go live, we would be working with partners who have clean bigger buses with a seating capacity of 33 and above,” he added.

Little Shuttle is expected to cost slightly higher and is expected not to offer direct competition to matatus but rather let Riders who would otherwise be using their own vehicles for city and work movements access the service from matatus that will be using the service.

The commuter industry in Nairobi city is volatile, quite often, commuters have experienced unpredictability caused by factors such as strikes e.t.c. traffic surges and weather changes have had a major impact on Nairobians where in some cases you’ll find huge queues without or very few buses. Uber has also expressed interest to include Uber Bus function on their offerings.

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Are you low on M-PESA balance yet desperately in need of cash to make that important transaction? Whether it’s a utility bill with a Paybill/Till number or just want to send cash to someone with an emergency somewhere, FULIZA M-PESA could come in handy as it’ll allow you complete that transaction even when low on MPESA balance. You could borrow cash using the already available Mshwari or KCB-MPESA loan facilities to sort out your problem, but what if you’re already on the MPESA menu and probably servicing an existing loan or already reached your maximum loan limit; this is where FULIZA M-PESA is way better than all alternatives.

Overdraft facility already exists with many banking institutions; it’s surprising how the likes of FULIZA M-PESA services took this long even after loan facilities becoming available early in time on our mobile phones. FULIZA M-PESA service is definitely viable at least according to Safaricom alongside with partners who got the much needed go ahead nod from Kenya’s financial regulator – Central Bank of Kenya.

There are no known stringent requirements to use FULIZA M-PESA, all You need is be an M-PESA registered customer with an active Safaricom line; so if you are already using MPESA, you should be good to go and you can hold as many accounts as the number of MPESA lines you have.

How to Subscribe / Start Using FULIZA M-PESA

• On your phone’s Dial pad, dial *234# to subscribe via USSD Code
• Then select ‘Fuliza M-PESA’ to opt in.
• FULIZA M-PESA has of course a set limit on the amount you can access which you can utilize as long as you’re within the limit.

The following services on FULIZA M-PESA can be accessed via a USSD Code “Dial *234#”

• Check your FULIZA M-PESA limit
• Check FULIZA M-PESA balance
• Access FULIZA M-PESA mini statement

However, each time you transact using Fuliza, you will receive a text message with the respective outstanding Fuliza amount. The more you use and repay FULIZA M-PESA, the more chances you would grow your Fuliza M-PESA limit just the way you’d normally grow mobile loan limit.

How to repay FULIZA M-PESA

As long as you have an outstanding overdraft, any funds received or deposited in your M-PESA account will automatically be used to clear your outstanding Fuliza M-PESA.

FULIZA M-PESA Transaction Costs / Tariffs

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Uber has unveiled UberASSIST in Nairobi– a service specially designed for seniors and the disabled in our community. Unlike current Uber services, UberASSIST features specially trained driver-partners who have cars that can accommodate folding wheelchairs as well as walkers. The service intents to empower riders with disability and the elderly by allowing them access Nairobi city more conveniently without worrying about a bout having someone accompanying them.   

UberASSIST has been available in two other African towns – Johannesburg and Cape Town since 2017 before finally rolling out in Nairobi in 2019. There’s a cut-throat competition in Kenya’s taxi-hailing industry which features the likes of Taxify, Little cab and several motorbike focused apps forcing providers to improve and diversify their service offering. In Mombasa for example, Uber unveiled UberTuk that utilizes “tuktuk’s” owing to the popularity this means of transport has enjoyed in the region while similarly launching UberBoda in Nairobi.

UberASSIST will therefore score an advantage for Uber going into 2019, catering for a segment that had long been neglected by other taxi companies. Considering both Taxify and Little are yet to unveil a similar feature, I’d imagine most riders who fall within these two categories will feel more at peace riding with Uber and also gives an assurance knowing for example one can bring in his or her folding wheelchair.

How to Request uberASSIST for elderly and the disabled in Nairobi

• Launch your Uber app as you’d do normally
• Enter your destination (where you intent to go)
• Swipe left and select uberASSIST – appears after ChapChap, UberX, Boda and just before Uber’s premium service – Select
• Confirm pick-up location and request a ride

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Are you self-employed and in urgent need to settle your NHIF penalty before it’s too late? Well the process couldn’t be easier, especially after the insurer unveiled an M-PESA option to do the same. The National Hospital Insurance Fund is a government owned institution with a mandate to offer insurance cover to Kenyans. Just like most insurance companies, those who subscribe to the NHIF cover (probably anyone who’s currently employed and a few self-employed Kenyans), must contribute on a monthly basis for the cover to remain active. Those who are employed probably need not worry about penalties as in most cases, these contributions are done by the employer.

However; for self-employed Kenyans, the situation is totally different. There are various variables that come into play, for example, you might not have cash to pay for your monthly premiums in time or if it accidentally slips your attention before the deadline which is 9^th of every month. It’s also important to note in case you’ve missed to send in your monthly contribution, you’ll not be able to access the cover until these penalties have been paid.

I’ve compiled a simple guide on how self-employed Kenyans can pay for their National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) penalties through M-PESA, the process is very simple and no different from the common LIPA NA MPESA transactions for those who have used them.

How to pay your National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) penalties through M-PESA

Monthly penalty for not paying on time is Ksh.250 and can be paid through M-PESA using below simple steps;

• Go to your “MPESA” menu on your device and select “LIPA NA MPESA”
• Enter the NHIF Business number – which is 200222
• Type in your ID Number as the account and put “y” at the end so the transactions could be treated as a penalty i.e (22997848y)
• Enter Ksh.250 for the month defaulted
• Enter your MPESA PIN then send
• You’ll receive a confirmation text message of the transaction.

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Telkom Kenya has had some of the best cellular rates for a while now in comparison to Safaricom, they boast some of the best data, voice and text bundles in the country and at some point, I jumped on the bandwagon, not completely but it’s good to have a cheaper alternative that comes in handy. Besides what I’ve seen on their aggressive adverts, I’ve learned a lot on the provider’s services, I was for example really impressed just how easy it was to purchase airtime directly from MPESA – and it’s instant.

If you’ve used MPESA’s LIPA NA MPESA service to pay for bills such as electricity, pay TV or internet, the process is exactly the same. All you need to replace is the Paybill number and account number and all will be a breeze. Telkom Kenya’s official MPESA PAYBILL NO for airtime top up through Safaricom’s MPESA is 777711, and the account number should be your Telkom number.

Here is How to Purchase Telkom Kenya airtime through M-PESA Paybill No 777711

First of course you need to have sufficient balance on your MPESA account, or utilize the fuliza mpesa overdraft facility in case you’re within your maximum limit. I’ve purchased twice for Ksh.50 and only charged Ksh.1 as transaction fee by MPESA.

• Go to your “MPESA” menu on your device and select “LIPA NA MPESA”
• Now you’ll need to enter the Telkom Kenya Business number – which is 777711
• Input your Telkom mobile Number as the account number such as “0771000000” or “0202000000” if it has a landline prefix
• Enter the amount for airtime you intent to purchase
• Enter your MPESA PIN then send
• You’ll receive a confirmation text message of the transaction from MPESA as well as on your Telkom mobile phone.
• Now check your airtime balance by Dialing *144# it should reflect as the process is instant.  

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Talk of revolutionizing utility bills payments and transfer of cash from one entity to another, MPESA and other mobile money transfer services have had undisputed impact on just about everything here in Kenya. Unlike a few years back when we had no option but visit banking halls that were plagued by long queues especially during peak seasons such as back to school to carry out the simplest cash transaction. Members of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) can now make their voluntary contributions through MPESA, just as they would be using any other paybill service.

For those who are formally employed, it’s highly probable contributions are deducted by your employer and this service might not be for you; however, if you’re self-employed and make NSSF contributions individually, using MPESA will radically simplify the whole process and spare you all the inconveniences associated with vising banking halls.  

For those who have used the LIPA NA MPESA service before, this will be a breeze, just as you would make payments for services like paying your electricity bill, purchasing airtime for Telkom number, pay TV or internet subscription –  the process is quite similar. All you need is to replace the Paybill number and account number while making the transaction. The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) official MPESA PAYBILL NO is 333300, and the account number should be your NSFF number – this is usually the number which NFFS issues when you register.

How to make your National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Contributions through MPESA PAYBILL NUMBER 333300.

Before you start the process, you’ll need to make sure your MPESA balance is sufficient, that is if you don’t intent to utilize the fuliza mpesa overdraft facility. Even with fuliza, you’ll still need to be within your maximum limit when contributing.

• Head over to your “MPESA” menu on your device and select “LIPA NA MPESA”
• Enter the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Business number – which is 333300
• Enter your National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Number as the account number such as “3333445555”.
• Enter the amount you intent to contribute
• Enter your MPESA PIN then send
• You’ll receive a confirmation text message of the transaction from MPESA
• Now check your National Social Security Fund (NSSF) account via NSSF self-service portal, it should reflect within 48 hours, this process is not instant.

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Taxi hailing service – taxify has inked a deal that will see drivers on its platform with a higher rating qualify to own their own cars through 100 percent financing from Stanbic bank. Drivers will be able to purchase Renault KWID cars from Simba Corporation through a financing arrangement that will allow them repay loans within a period of 36 months. The agreement will also extent to include a 25 percent discount on parts replacement, 20 percent discount on labor related charges as well as AA rescue service in case of emergency.

While speaking at the launch event, Taxify’s country manager to Kenya Mr. Alex Mwaura said the company was always striving to meet growing needs of riders to access reliable transportation while at the same time creating jobs for drivers. He also acknowledged various challenges experienced by drivers on its platform. For instance, owning a car upfront for drivers can take some serious investments and savings; hence, most drivers prefer leasing vehicles instead. Therefore, this initiative will enable drivers not only access a feasible and cost-effective way to own cars, but also offer an easier way to provide income for themselves and their families as well, he added.

The Renault KWID cars and Suzuki Alto are favored by drivers as their engine capacity is not as demanding, which allows them maximize on profits by reducing fuel costs. The KWID for example has an engine capacity of 800cc and is estimated to consume an approximate fuel efficiency of 24km per liter. KWID was first unveiled in Kenya in 2016.

Competition in the taxi industry has become more stiff since major providers such as Uber and Little launched in the country; Uber for example has had a similar initiative for drivers on its platform since 2017. Just recently, Uber unveiled UberASSIST to serve the disabled and elderly riders. There are several advantages of owning a car with these taxi services rather than leasing, Uber partners for example impose a daily target that drivers must meet. This is a bummer especially on not so good days, which means drivers sometimes have to dig in their own pockets to pay up. Drivers literally have to split their earnings with the company (which takes a percentage) as well as car owners.

How Taxify Drivers Can Own a Renault KWID car Through 100 percent Stanbic Bank Financing

• Drivers must have a 4.7-star rating or better
• If you meet the required rating, you can sign up for the initiative which will attract monthly instalments of Sh43,000 inclusive of insurance for the vehicles valued at Sh1.2 million for the manual version and Sh1.1 million for the automatic type
• And of course drivers must have been using Taxify’s taxi hailing service

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The first time Kenya’s treasury offered bonds via M-Akiba back in 2017 under-performed terribly, the bond-sale wasn’t as successful as expected with a total sale of Ksh 247.47 million instead of expected KSh1 billion due to poor public awareness; three years later in 2019, M-Akiba is here with us again and it’s a matter of a few weeks till you have a chance to invest using your phone. According to Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) head of enterprise innovation Mr. David Waggema, the three-year bond will be reintroduced, allowing people to invest with an impressive return on investment of 10 percent tax free interest.

At the time when M-Akiba was first introduced in 2017, the country was already pre-occupied with upcoming 2017 general elections leading to lack of awareness by most Kenyans; however, this time round, Mr Waggema indicated they’ll be doing public education before it goes on sale. 10 percent tax free return on investment is ahead of the prevailing yield curve for similar tenured government paper.

How to Subscribe and Start Investing in M-Akiba

Before we dive into M-Akiba’s investment world, first here is what you need to know;

• Unless you’re a Kenyan citizen who has attained the age of 18 years and above, you’re not allowed to participate in M-Akiba bond sale, and yes this includes teenagers who are busy building their future in schools or own a phone.
• You must have a mobile money enabled phone; if you’ve got MPESA or Airtel Money activated on your device, then you are good to go.
• The mobile based bond is guaranteed by the Government of Kenya.

To start investing, follow below procedure;

• First, you’ll need to enroll to M-Akiba by dialing a USSD Code *889# on your phone
• A pop up will appear on your phone requiring you to enter your preferred Personal Identification Number (PIN). Set your preferred PIN then press OK to proceed. This will be the default PIN for your transactions, therefore you’re advised to keep it a secret. However, if you need to reset of forgotten, press 0 and follow the prompts to set a new PIN.
• Enter Your National Identity Number
• Register to Participate in M-Akiba, after entering your National ID number, you will then be prompted to register by dialing 1.
• Accept the terms & conditions of M-Akiba by pressing 1 for YES.
• If successful, you will receive notification from your mobile service provider confirming of your successful submission.
• The confirmation message will have your M-Akiba Account Number, Your Name and the activation time & date of your M-Akiba Account. To proceed with trading, dial *889# on your phone and follow the prompts.

The post Treasury to Sell a Three Years Mobile Bond – M-Akiba in March 2019, Here’s how to Purchase M-Akiba via MPESA or Airtel Money appeared first on Tuvuti.

The controversial Local Authority Integrated Financial Operations Management System (Laifoms) is set to be retired as city hall moves to install an integrated city revenue management system (ICMS) ending a long relationship the authority has had with JamboPay. From tender documents published on Friday, the local authority is seeking for a new partner to install the new city revenue management system (ICMS) replacing Laifoms that’s currently been running parallel.

Laiforms was installed with sole intention to address several concerns that local authorities faced in service delivery. These shortcomings included lack of proper record keeping that in end resulted in a myriad of problems. The system had its pros as well as cons, it was mostly mired with controversy that have caused Nairobi County to replace it with a new system.

Web Tribe Limited, the owners of JamboPay e-payment’s contract with City Hall is set to expire, but the relationship between the two hasn’t always been rosy. According to City Hall’s ICT director George Ombua, the authority has been using Laifoms but with many challenges that did not fit within the best practices of technology at the moment. The decision to have a new system in place comes after the authority’s intention to unravel discrepancies between revenue collected through Laifoms and the JamboPay system.

For instance, during 2017/18 period City Hall reported a collection of KSh10.1 billion while JamboPay reported KSh9.86 billion, raising questions whether the Sh240 million is all City Hall collected outside the electronic billing system. As at the time of this article, JamboPay was tasked with managing 85 revenue streams while City Hall had 51 under its control through Laifoms.

Web Tribe was not far from controversy after it withheld close to Sh2.82 million for 57 days in January 2015 and Sh51 million last February for six days raising concerns whether City Hall’s funds had been used for un-authorized trading. The contract stipulates that Web Tribe settles all City Hall’s transactions within 12 hours for cash transactions and three days for electronic payments.

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Does the newly unveiled Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 fancy you in some way but the price tag just seems a little too much to raise at a go? Well here’s another interestingly simpler way you could start your journey of owning one at manageable installments. Huawei has inked a deal with ‘Lipa Later’ – an online credit facility that would see consumers purchase its devices on hire purchase with monthly installments of up to twelve months. ‘Lipa Later’ which loosely means ‘pay later’ let’s consumers pay for whatever they need over a period of time from selected sellers that allow the facility instead of raising the entire cash which could be strenuous to some.  

While at the launch event for the device, ‘Lipa Later’s ‘winnie Nzisa said instead of consumers coughing up the entire Ksh. 17,999, they could start owning the Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 for as little as Ksh. 2,600 per month in retail stores across the country.

“Huawei has partnered with Lipa Later to enable consumers Get the newly launched Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 using our facilities today and pay in flexible monthly instalments of as little as Kshs 2,600,” Nzisa added. At the moment, the Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 is still on pre-order, and this facility has them covered as well. For those who pre-orders this handset using the Lipa Later facility, they will receive a free Huawei gift pack. Pre-orders are set to end on the 7th of February.

The Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 is one of 2019’s promising devices that’ve already gone official in the mid-range category. For the price tag, it combines an interesting design and modern technology that is just way out of its league and will prove quite a catch to most consumers out there. Its signature dew-drop display extends to 6.26inches and has one of the best artificial intelligence camera with a 13MP sensor.

The offer comes at a time when Kenyan’s are preparing to celebrate valentine’s day, and Huawei seems to have spiced up the device by unveiling a RED color option alongside Blue and Black.

 How to Own Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 Through Lipa Later Facility

• All you have to do is register online via ‘Lipa Later’ website or visit Lipa Later partner stores
• Submit requirements online or through partner stores and wait for approval from Lipa Later
• Once you have been approved, collect your Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 and start making monthly payments

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Azuri technologies has introduced a new 32-inch solar satellite TV system that will see consumers in remote parts of Kenya part with Ksh.129 daily to become owners of the system. The firm joins the likes of M-Kopa, Orb Energy and Germany-based Mobisol targeting Kenyans off-grid with alternative solar powered solutions. The company is looking to tap into millions of Kenyan households without power connection and are longing to have a television set. Households without power connections have long depended on rechargeable batteries and solar panels as a source of power, batteries have to be taken to power stations mostly in town centers to be recharged; the process usually takes in excess of twelve hours and not always reliable due to blackouts and very expensive in the long run.  

Even though there has been a tremendous progress in the number of households connected to the national electricity grid, a huge chunk of rural homes are yet to access the service due to cost barriers, a challenge Azuri seeks to tackle with flexible financing. According to Azuri, the new 32-inch TV Solar Home System will come with four high brightness LED lights, mobile phone charging and a rechargeable torch and radio. Those who will plug into the opportunity will have access to more than 60 satellite TV channels and in excess of 20 radio channels. Payments will be made using Mobile Money services that are already accessible by anyone in the country

Since the product is almost solely targeting rural areas, TV sets have been designed to withstand rural environments with features such as Azuri ToughScreen technology that resists accidental damage during normal home use. UK based Azuri technologies intents to unveil a similar product in other sub-Saharan African countries but for now in Kenya. According to Azuri’s CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth, there are three main hindrances preventing rural off-grid consumers from watching TV; and that is access to power, services coverage and high upfront costs of installation. In this cases, the firm addresses them by providing affordable TV anytime, anywhere. He also added the company quest was to provide modern products and services regardless of where consumers live. Azuri has partnered with Zuku Satellite TV and Startimes to offer the product.

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Riverbank solutions has been awarded a lucrative deal that will see revenue collection in Mombasa County digitized through its platform, the county government’s revenue streams that include market fees, license fees and parking fees will now be remitted through mobile money services instead of cash. County governments across the country have been modernizing their revenue collection process to stem corruption and loss of revenue that’s currently bedeviling those still using old-fashion methods.

The deal, whose value remains a secret, adds an important member from the tourist hub to Riverbank Solution’s portfolio with other counties like Nakuru, Makueni and Meru already onboard. The deal will come effective staring February 18^th where county residents will start to seamlessly make their payments by USSD Code: *282#.

In recent times, there has been controversy that has rocked Nairobi County with its revenue collection partner – JamboPay. The technology firm has been accused of remitting less cash to the authority, short of the amount recorded by the county government. And in some instances, holding the county’s revenue for several days before transmitting while their deal clearly stipulated that JamboPay transfer any revenue collected within twelve hours. This has led to termination of their contract upon expiration and Nairobi County is currently seeking for a new firm to manage its revenue collection of which Riverbank Solutions has clearly shown interest.

While confirming the deal, Riverbank Solutions also indicated it had partnered with two local banks – Kenya Commercial Bank and Equity Bank to enable seamless transactions on its portal. This is in addition to other channels including USSD, and Safaricom’s M-Pesa on a point-of-sale (POS).

How to Register to Mombasa County electronic cash payment services;

• On your mobile phone, dial *282#
• Follow the prompts to register for e-services
• Start making accessing e-services for Mombasa County

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While brazing for what seems to be one of the busiest two weeks in Tech world – thanks to the upcoming mobile world congress in Barcelona, we’ve decided to articulate just how easy it has become to shop online from some of the biggest sites in the world. Online shoppers in Kenya have had for a long time difficulties in making payments to international online outlets especially eBay and Amazon due to ambiguous modes of payments that these retail giants accept. To purchase something on eBay for example, one has to own a PayPal account that should be linked to a local bank account which can process such transactions. This has not always been easy especially to the average Kenyan, even though we’ve made tremendous strides in paperless transactions thanks to MPESA.

We can now appreciate how easy it has become to move money across various platforms such as MPESA and PayPal but most of these methods are still not effective to some and to simplify that, Western Union recently introduced a payment option that will see amazon shoppers in the country pay directly on their platform in local currency. The service which is currently limited to a few countries including Colombia, Chile, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines and Peru uses a PayCode generated from amazon.com by processing complex foreign exchange, settlement and money movement requirements for international e-commerce transactions to complete payments for users in Kenya.

While speaking on the development, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Western Union Digital Mr. Khalid Fellahi indicated the move was aimed to unlock access to Amazon.com for customers who need and want items that can only be found online in many parts of the world. Most items needed by consumers across the world are not necessarily available to them locally hence the need to acquire some via online means. Let’s say for example someone looking for a rare replacement part to repair their electronic device that’s not available locally, can easily find the exact part at a cheaper price from a different country rather than depending on the manufacturer who by the way might not have a store locally to ship in.

How to Shop Online at amazon.com and Pay through Western Union

• After you’ve identified your item at amazon.com and are sure its eligible to be shipped to your country in this case Kenya, proceed to the checkout page and select “PayCode”
• You will be sent a code, along with instructions on how to pay in person at a participating Western Union® agent location.
• Proceed to the Western Union agent and make the payment in local currency (they’ll do all the currency conversion for you)

Wait for your item to arrive and you don’t need to worry about credit card charges or hidden bank fees. It’s that simple.

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If you are an adult living in Kenya, chances are you’ve already transacted on Safaricom’s MPESA mobile wallet platform. Thanks to the enormous adoption the service continues to enjoy since it was launched, almost anyone with a phone is familiar on how to utilize the service’s bills payment function – popularly referred to as a “PAY BILL” no. Technology evolution in the mobile payments segment is simply unrivaled compared to the rest of the world, but there are some pretty important functionalities users’ tent to assume even though they could make their lives a whole lot easier than traditional methods.

As is the case when I’m so enthusiastic about something especially in the tech world, I tent to share it here with my loyal folks and today, I’ve devised something that’s worth checking out especially by our beautiful sisters on the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) network. I’m therefore going to divulge important steps you can follow to withdraw/deposit money between your Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) account and MPESA, as well as how you can general mobile banking services from the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) that are available via mobile banking.

Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) mobile banking services;

Before we continue in the mobile banking arena, I have to clarify that this service is independent of MPESA and merely serves as a convenient way to access services from the financial institution without having to physically visit any of their branches.

• As is the case with many mobile banking services out there you’ll need to initiate Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) mobile banking services via their official USSD Code: *859# and access a myriad of services as listed below;
• You can deposit cash from your MPESA wallet to KWF account
• Loan requests and repayment as well as balance enquiry
• Requesting your mini statements
• Transferring cash between different Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) accounts
• Airtime Top Ups both (Safaricom and Airtel) supported
• Utility bills payment

How to Transfer Cash from the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) account to MPESA

• On your phone, head over to the dialer and key in USSD Code: *859#
• When prompted, enter your Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) Mobile Banking PIN
• Select funds transfer
• Scroll down to “mobile money transfer”
• Then choose from “Account to MPESA”
• Select either to my phone or to another phone
• For my phone Enter amount to send
• If you’re sending to a different number other than yours, then enter phone then amount to send
• Select account, then Accept or cancel.
• You will receive a confirmation message from KWFT

How to deposit cash from MPESA to your Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) account

• Head over to the MPESA menu using your Safaricom line (must have a registered MPESA account with enough balance to initiate the transfer or utilize fuliza service)
• Press on “ Lipa na Mpesa” then select Pay Bill
• Enter Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) Business Number (101200)
• Then type in your Kwft account number
• Put the amount you intent to deposit followed by your Mpesa PIN
• You will receive a confirmation message from KWFT

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As I walked into the Barclays bank branch located in westlands Nairobi off the sarit center, I had not thought of exactly how long it was going to take for me to make my rental payment, but I had it planned well during lunch time so no one misses me at my place of work; Little did I know the entire process could be completed at the teller machine inside within no time. To be honest, I’m usually very skeptical to some payment methods that utility companies and landlords accept, I’d for example opt not to visit any bank agent for that purpose especially if it involves huge amount of cash after one agent almost retained my card in pretense to have accidentally forgotten to hand it over after the transactions I did. I was therefore very impressed just how technology has advanced to allow someone pay for rent through teller machines and even include both narrations (persons paying and for what) at the Barclays bank teller machines (ATM).

The process is pretty straight forward, but there are some mandatory requirements that have to be met to be able to pay for your rent at the ATM machines. At the moment, I do not recollect any other ATM that has this functionality apart from the westlands branch, I’d therefore strongly advise to make necessary clarifications before visiting the teller machine location. Instead of putting up with long queues at the banking halls, the ATM solution is simply amazing and the security guy I found at the location was more than helpful, he explained the whole process and I’ve never looked back ever since.

Requirements for paying rent at the Barclays bank teller machine;

• Your landlord must have enabled this feature on their respect account before you can utilize it.
• Cash must be in denominations of either 500 notes or 1000 notes. Other notes are unfortunately not accepted at least at this ATM machine.
• You need to have relevant information i.e. the account name and number with you including the respective narrations i.e. tenant and house number.
• Of course you need to have the exact cash to complete the transaction, other services including overdraft facilities such as Safaricom’s Fuliza are not available here and you’ll not be allowed to proceed with less cash. 
• There’s a cap on the maximum amount you can pay through the machine of 100 notes

How to pay rent at Barclays Bank Kenya Teller Machines

• Step 1; ensure you have the whole amount you intent to pay for rent in acceptable denominations (500 and 1000) Kenyan shillings and properly aligned – this will make it easier
• On the teller machine, press “Cardless Services”
• Then head over to “Cash Deposit” from the Menu items
• Accept the “Disclaimer” and press continue on the machine
• Enter your landlord’s Barclays bank Rent Account then press on “confirm”, if it’s not supported, you will not proceed after this step
• On the next screen, you will be shown the Account number followed by Account Name (some digits may be hashed out) and lastly the Currency (should be KES) press on continue
• Enter Narration i.e. Rent for House Number x then continue
• input your Full Names on the next screen if you’re the tenant then press on “continue”
• Enter your phone number or ID number on the next screen
• Put the full amount you intent to pay into the ATM, if accepted, the machine will count and indicate the figure on the screen
• Confirm and continue, on the next screen, you’ll see full details including Narration, Landlord’s account name (without hashes) amount paid for rent.
• If any of the details are not valid at any step, you may press “Cancel” to reverse the cash before the last step

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