A Sleek Design, Packed with Power

The Find X8 boasts a stunning design, combining sleek glass and aluminum construction with a striking Cosmos Ring. Its 6.59-inch display offers immersive visuals, while the slim 7.85mm profile and lightweight 193g body ensure comfortable handling.

Built to last, the Find X8 is IP68 and IP69 rated for dust and water resistance, and it has undergone rigorous testing to meet Swiss SGS and Military Grade standards.

A Photography Powerhouse

The Find X8’s Hasselblad Master Camera System is a marvel of engineering, featuring a trio of 50MP sensors:

• 15mm (0.6x) ultra-wide lens
• 24mm (1x) main lens
• 73mm (3x) periscope telephoto lens

This versatile camera system captures stunning photos and videos, including 4K Dolby Vision HDR footage at 60fps from all cameras.

Ultra-Powerful Performance

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset, the Find X8 delivers exceptional performance. This powerful processor, paired with OPPO’s Trinity Engine optimization and advanced cooling system, ensures smooth multitasking and demanding gaming experiences.

The Find X8’s large 5630mAh battery, coupled with 80W SUPERVOOC charging and 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging, offers long-lasting battery life and rapid charging capabilities.

ColorOS 15: A Smarter, Smoother Experience

ColorOS 15, the latest iteration of OPPO’s custom Android skin, brings a host of new features and improvements to the Find X8. These include:

• A sleek, minimalist design
• Enhanced AI capabilities, such as AI Clarity Enhance, AI Unblur, and AI Reflection Remover
• Advanced AI Assistant for Notes and Documents
• Seamless integration with Google Assistant and other Google services

Pricing and Availability

The OPPO Find X8 is available in Kenya for a recommended retail price of Ksh 139,999. It comes in two stunning colors: Star Grey and Space Black.

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Dr Mukhwana emphasized the state’s determination to execute strategies that will catalyze the growth of the manufacturing sector. He underscored the importance of crafting policies that shield the local market from an influx of substandard goods.

He stated, “Importing products from abroad does not alleviate the cost of living. Every import signifies a job opportunity shipped overseas. The key to lowering the cost of living lies in producing and selling most of our consumed products locally. Local manufacturing plays a crucial role in creating jobs and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for our citizens.”

During his visit, Dr Mukhwana, accompanied by representatives from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, discussed the obstacles confronting the Kenyan manufacturing sector and the government’s ongoing initiatives to tackle them. Issues such as illicit trade, unfavourable taxation policies, and high electricity tariffs were among those addressed.

Commenting on the visit, Paul Muigai, EAC Managing Director, said, “The PS’ visit provided us with a valuable platform to shed light on the current challenges faced by local manufacturers. Our sector is ready to significantly contribute to national progress through the production of high-quality products. These not only align with governmental goals like affordable housing but also bolster the economy through job creation and tax generation.”

Also present at the event were Mr Ngángá Njiinu, CEO of TransCentury Group (EAC’s parent company), and Board Members of East African Cables (plc) Limited. EAC recently invested USD 35m to boost its production capacity to 750 MT and 800 MT of copper and aluminium cables respectively.

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Equity Bank, a financial institution that was once considered the least performing among the 66 banks in Kenya in the early 90s, has undergone a remarkable transformation. From those challenging beginnings, the Bank has emerged as an industry leader and has now been recognized as the overall best bank in the country for 12 years running at the 18^th edition of the prestigious Think Business Banking Industry Awards. This well-deserved accolade serves as a testament to Equity’s unwavering commitment to transform livelihoods by offering services that socially and economically empower consumers, businesses, and communities.

This year’s Think Business Awards further validated Equity ‘s exceptional performance, with the Bank receiving accolades for being the Best Bank in ESG factors, the Most Customer-Centric Bank, the Best in Digital Banking,  the Best in Mobile Banking, the Best Bank in Retail Banking, the Best Bank in Trade Financing, the Best Bank in SME Financing, the Best Bank in Agriculture and Livestock Financing, the Best in Agency Banking, and the Best Bank in Internet Banking among others. The Bank also received a Special Judges Award for Product Innovation, for its contribution in championing clean energy access at institutional and household level the Equity Group Foundation, Energy, Environment and Climate Change pillar.

Reflecting on the Bank’s achievements, Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director, Gerald Warui expressed his satisfaction, saying, “The recognition of Equity Bank as the overall best bank in Kenya fills us with great pride. Our unwavering commitment to creating a sustainable banking brand and serving each and every one of our customers has truly paid off. This recognition reaffirms our dedication to excellence and motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation in the pursuit of lasting impact and business sustainability.”

At the core of Equity ‘s success lies its focus on corporate sustainability and governance. By adapting to market dynamics and meeting diverse customer needs, the Bank has refined its competitive strategy and excelled across various socio-economic pillars.

To effectively serve customers from different backgrounds, Equity has strategically invested in enterprise development and financial inclusion, health, energy, environment and climate change, food and agriculture, and education. These initiatives have allowed the Bank to expand its range of products and services, catering to a significant portion of the population.

The lender’s commitment to driving societal change and formulating high-value operating policies has contributed to the overall socio-economic development of its communities and stakeholders. As the Bank continues to innovate and adapt to customer needs, it redefines the banking landscape in Kenya.

Equity’s dedication to social and environmental responsibilities has not only built a sustainable brand but has also garnered recognition on a global scale. Brand Finance ranked Equity Group as the fourth strongest banking brand worldwide in its Top 500 Most Valuable Banking Brands of 2023. The Banker Top 1000 World Banks also placed Equity at the 22nd position in Africa in 2021, among others.

Looking ahead, Equity remains dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of its customers through continuous investment in sustainable practices. By upholding its corporate values and embracing social responsibility, Equity sets a benchmark for sustainable growth in the banking industry, solidifying its position as the overall best bank in Kenya.

The author is a consultant specializing in communication within the finance industry.

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Standard Chartered Women in Tech (WiT) support female-led entrepreneurial teams with business management training, mentoring and seed funding. This year’s top 10 teams were selected from a pool of over 350 start-ups that had applied for the program. The entrepreneurs will go through 12 weeks of mentorship @iBizAfrica where they will be offered expert training in the areas of business idea conceptualization, strategy formulation and marketing which is key in moving the businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.

Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University said: “This incubator program female led Startups in the ICT sector are envisaged to transform Kenya through innovation. “It’s remarkable how far we have been able to come on this journey of nurturing women-led entrepreneurial visions from the idea stage to marketable and scalable ventures through our coaching and mentoring sessions on entrepreneurial skills. This program, which is in its 5th cohort, has helped transform Kenyan women-led startups into fully-fledged businesses that are thriving and contributing to the country’s economy.”  Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Strathmore University.

Since its inception the Women in tech program has attracted over 1,800 applicants, trained over 40 entrepreneurs and funded 20 women-led startups from the through partnership with the Standard Chartered Bank. The program seeks to further educate, mentor, coach and fund more African female entrepreneurs and innovators whilst also providing women-led startups with practical support to grow and develop their businesses beyond East Africa.

Commenting on the program, Joyce Kibe, Head Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Kenya and EA said: “The programme is designed to help address gender disparity in the technology sector and to use technology to tackle social challenges faced by communities. They are an important part of our entrepreneurship offering within Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, our global initiative to tackle inequality and promote economic inclusion and aligns with our stand to lift participation by creating opportunities for women to contribute to the society and economy”.

The enterprises were shortlisted based on criteria such as demonstrated capacity to execute, clearly defined roles, balanced skill set (team lead, business development, product development and marketing), leveraging technology, availability of Market opportunity and potential socioeconomic impact in Kenya.

‘’Representation matters and more so in the technology industry which continues to be a key driver and enabler of growth and innovation. However, women, who constitute a higher percentage of the global population are still underrepresented in this sector owing to financial and capacity barriers. Over the last 4 years, the Women in Tech program has successfully contributed to filling this gap through capacity building and financing, which has seen participants of the program register sustained growth, create jobs and foster innovation through technology. We look forward to supporting this year’s cohort and congratulate the 10 businesses that have been shortlisted,’’ added Ms. Kibe.

Ms. Diana Mutua, Public Relations Manager @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University said: “Access to finance for women has been and still continues to remain a challenge, with a recent study indicating that 68 per cent of Women-led MSMEs in developing countries lack adequate access to finance, representing a 1.5 trillion financing gap. Women-led enterprises account for 48 per cent of all micro-small and Medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) which contribute 20 per cent to the overall GDP of Kenya. When we launched this year our theme was “Advancing Global Trends in women-owned businesses”. These trends combined with capacity building, coaching and mentoring will provide opportunities for startup businesses to upscale provide better product solutions”

The Women in Tech Incubator Program is committed to being digital by design, to support female entrepreneurs with technology to grow their businesses.

The 10 enterprises who will be starting the 12 weeks of mentorship @iBizAfricathe Women in Tech 2022 are: –

1. Pure Purple:A contemporary footwear and accessories brand based in Nairobi Kenya that adds premium value to locally sourced leather, thus creating communal impact.
2. SIAGO:An e-commerce fashion store that makes and sells unique, luxury, free-size dresses targeting the 30+-year-old, plus-size, career woman.

3.Aurora Health Systems: A wearable medical device that uses wireless technology to continuously monitor heart rate and abnormal ECG findings.  Data is generated in real-time and linked to smartphones for a period of 21 days thus preventing acute cardiac conditions.

4. SowPrecise:A farm management system tailor-made for the African farmers to communicate with farm labourers and help them keep track of farming activities.

5.Learning Differently Limited: A learning intervention platform tailor-made to support students/learners with learning disabilities. The courses/training equips parents, teachers, and caregivers with practical learnings that they can incorporate to support their learners.

6.GoBEBA Everything Ltd: GoBEBA offers online retail of household essentials delivered within an hour. They use technology to provide convenience, reduce costs as well as use machine learning for demand planning and delivery optimization.

7. ON MY MIND:A Women’s startup supporting breastfeeding moms with low milk supply to meet their breastfeeding goals, while also promoting their health and wellness by value addition to organic and wholesome products i.e. (herbal teas and lactation cookies)
8. Keyara Botanics:A skincare label that creates products that take care of your skin naturally with raw materials sourced from African farmers which are rich and of healing quality.
9. Sello Designs:A social business that designs and makes sustainable, durable, and timeless bags using leather and kitenge fabric.
10. DigiPath Africa: A Digital Marketing agency that helps organizations and individuals navigate their way online and take their products and services to existing/ new customers using digital marketing.

The post 10 women led businesses picked for incubation and training in the 2022 Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator appeared first on Biz Post Daily.

Safaricom attributes the dip in profits to the Ksh 4.66 billion it spent in financing the Ethiopia business which the telco is set to launch later in the years.

Safaricom’s Service Revenue increased by 12.3% to KES 281.11 Billion and Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) by 13.5% to KES 109.13 Billion.

Voice service revenue grew by 0.8% to KES 83.21 Billion; mobile data revenue grew by 8.1% to KES 48.44 Billion, while M-PESA revenue grew by 30.3% to KES 107.69 Billion.

M-PESA, which marked its 15^th anniversary this year, hit the 30 million active customer mark in Kenya. A significant sign of M-PESA’s progress was the 63.4% growth of Lipa na M-PESA merchants to just below 500,000.

M-PESA now has over 3.2 million businesses accepting payments under its portfolio, while the M-PESA business app has about 100,000 active businesses.

Mr Ndegwa said: “Our strong growth and achievements this financial year are due to the strong strategy execution, a dedicated staff force, and the business commitment to prioritize the needs of our customers. We will continue to be a sustainable purpose-led business as we transition to become a technology company by 2025.”

Safaricom invested over KES 39.34 Billion in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) in Kenya to maintain and expand the network and ensure Kenyans enjoy reliable network coverage across the country and uninterrupted data services.

Safaricom Plc also invested KES 10.44 Billion in Ethiopia as we fast track our network rollout plans. This brings the total CAPEX spend for the year under review to KES 49.78 Billion a 42.4% increase from last year.

In the Financial Year, Safaricom launched intuitive and innovative new products that directly address specific customer pain points. Such as Nyoosha Shillingi, the mobile data new pricing plan that is giving more value to our customers at no extra cost.

Halal Pesa the first Shari’ah-compliant based digital financing product in partnership with the Gulf African Bank powered by M-PESA. Additional products in the pipeline include Visa virtual card by M-PESA GlobalPay to support international online payments and subject to regulatory approvals, the M-PESA junior product for children who may have access to mobile phones.

With the new business strategy and the renewed focus on the customer, Safaricom, in the new Financial Year, plans to accelerate new growth areas, delivering superior customer experience in order to be a purpose-led Technology Company by the end of 2025.

“The Board is encouraged by the recovery in the business from the pandemic in the past year. Two years into Safaricom’s new strategy, the Board continues to support the management in the business plans recording strong achievements in this financial year,” said Michael Joseph, Chairman, Safaricom Board of Directors.

The post Safaricom Announces Sh 67.5 Billion Profit for 2021 Financial Year appeared first on Biz Post Daily.

About 25 employees drawn from various Carrefour outlets in Nairobi, participated in the cleanup activity as part of the company’s CSR activity. Through this initiative, Carrefour seeks to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands and encourage other corporates to join in and support the initiatives to protect and conserve the environment.

“At Carrefour, we are committed to preserving the ecosystem around us to make the environment a better place to live. We believe that it is a collective responsibility to make the environment habitable and a beautiful place to live in and do business while at it” Said Franck Moreau, Country Manager, Carrefour Kenya.

The theme for this year’s event is Wetlands Action for People and nature. World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2^nd February since 1997 to raise awareness about wetlands as critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, economies, and more. The day also recognizes the influence and positive production that Wetlands have had on the world and in turn brings communities together for the benefit of Mother Nature.

Mr. Moreau said, “The good thing about wetlands is that they can cleanse and filter water as it moves through. But too much contamination can overwhelm this natural filtering system and destroy it. A world without wetlands is a world without water.”

Majid Al Futtaim currently operates 16 Carrefour stores in Kenya; 12 outlets in Nairobi, two in Mombasa, and Two in Kisumu with plans to expand to more regions across the country.

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Yesterday, I had an opportunity to have a conversation on South Africa’s Power 98.7 FM about a new product by Veezaviz, a technology firm based in Kenya which has produced an app that will help bridge the communication with the deaf community.

Listen in below:

The post Podcast Corner: Championing Inclusion of Deaf Community Through Communications App. appeared first on Biz Post Daily.

The pandemic has proved a significant growth catalyst for the digitisation of remittance services^[1]. As such, many of the major international remittance players have posted significant increases in the use of digital solutions. As more online money transfer services go to market, it is important that consumers know how to choose a service that fits their needs.

Knowing the difference between a good online money transfer service and a great one is important regardless of whether you are sending money or receiving it.

As part of our coverage on the financial and technology sector, we are focusing on WorldRemit – a leading international online money transfer service that is headquartered in London and that has a strong and growing presence in Kenya, in addition to more than 130 countries globally.

How it works

So, with that background, how does WorldRemit work?

●       If you are sending money

The service allows you to easily and quickly send from 50 countries to recipients in 130 countries around the world via the WorldRemit website or on the app, which is available on Android and iOS. Countries that have large Kenyan diaspora populations are covered – the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany and other European countries, as well as countries in Australia, Asia and the Americas. You can get the full list of countries HERE 

Registering for a WorldRemit account is simple and easy. Because your WorldRemit account is linked to your bank, card or online wallet, you can simply send money with just a few taps on your mobile device or laptop. Within minutes your transaction will be processed, with all fees clearly labelled upfront.

Unlike traditional money transfer services that require you to travel to the physical location and speak to an agent in person in order to send money abroad, WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), enhancing convenience and security. The absence of physical agents also reduces WorldRemit’s cost of remittances, allowing it to pass on the cost savings to users through affordable fees.

●       If you are receiving money

For those receiving money, WorldRemit offers a wide range of options, including bank deposits, cash pick-up, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money. More options mean greater convenience. You can receive money in 130 countries, including Kenya. A full list of countries can be found HERE

For those who do not have time to visit a physical bank, you can opt to receive money on your M-PESA. Conversely, for those who want to collect their transaction in hard currency, you are able to at a safe location. You may even want to receive money – especially if it is small amounts – as airtime; this may prove useful for people like students or those that work online and need data bundles.

What we liked

+Safety first

●       There is also comfort in knowing that all connections to WorldRemit through the website and mobile app are secured and encrypted so that information exchanged between your browser and the site is not accessible to any third party.

●       In the online money transfer space, safety, security and privacy are highly important considerations when selecting a service.

+24/7 support

●       We also liked the fact that WorldRemit’s customer care team is responsive and available 24/7. Even with the best technology, you sometimes need human intervention at times of need – this is particularly true when you are expecting money or have sent money.

+Trusted reviews

●       Customer reviews are important in assessing what service to use. The app has an aggregate rating of 4.2 stars out of 5 on Google Play and has received more than 125,000 5-star reviews on TrustPilot and an overall TrustPilot rating of over 4 stars.

+Simple, fast and affordable

●       The speed, simplicity and affordability of sending money via WorldRemit are certainly worth mentioning. It is also convenient to receive money, given the options available to customers – cash pickup, airtime top-up, mobile money and bank deposit.

The post How to choose the right digital money transfer service appeared first on Biz Post Daily.

The newly revamped platform dubbed Equity Online provides a unified service offering across channels, an improved customer experience with simpler customer journeys, fresh and user-friendly interface and more digital financial services such as buying Mpesa float, paying for parking among others. This comes in the backdrop of a growing demand for efficient and flexible online banking experiences by customers. Customers can now visit the Bank’s website (https://equityonline.equitygroupholdings.com/en/access/onboarding) to register on the platform.

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital banking and payment solutions by driving consumers to shift behaviors and adopt more technology to assist with their day-to-day lives in all aspects, including their finances.

During the release of the 2021 half-year results, Equity Group CEO and MD, Dr. James Mwangi said  “Covid-19 pandemic has acted as a tailwind for customers’ adoption of digital offering fastening the pace of business transformation with significant upside on efficiency as the Group increasingly becomes a technology platform and transform from being a fixed cost business to a variable cost business.”

Internet banking is the new form of space banking not only in Kenya but in the world at large, due to advancements in technology and innovation . Additionally, the bank has added new features on its Mobile App and the USSD code *247#. Customers transacting using the Equity Mobile App (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ke.co.equitygroup.equitymobile) will now be able to select a specific transaction on the mini statement to display more details such as beneficiary name etc. The number of transactions displayed on the mini statement has also increased from 10 to 20.

Customers using the *247# USSD code, can now access the service across all the telcos in Kenya and in addition apply for mobile loans such as Eazzy Loan. Previously, the USSD code was only available on the Safaricom network thus restricting customers on other telcos from accessing the services. Customers can self – register by dialing *247# on their mobile lines.

Equity’s digital banking services have continued to surpass traditional banking channels in both the number and value of transactions handled daily. In the recently – released 2021 half-year results, digital channels accounted for 98% of the Group’s transactions. 606.9 million transactions were completed through the Eazzy banking suite, agency banking and merchants compared to 385.2 million recorded last year, indicating a 66% growth.

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The NHIF mini-app will provide all NHIF services through the Super App, empowering customers to access services wherever they may be without visiting NHIF offices or downloading a separate app.

Payment and account reconciliation services are already live on the mini-app, with procedure approvals set to become available soon. 

“NHIF is currently undertaking a digital transformation of all its processes, including the registration & identification of members, claims management and payment mechanisms. In line with the Universal Health Care (UHC) scale-up, the Fund has been adopting innovative ways to ease business costs and time. Partnering with Safaricom will enable NHIF to offer members seamless services and accomplish our goal to broaden access to healthcare by reaching our customers wherever they are. Furthermore, the NHIF M-PESA Mini-App will save millions of NHIF members both the cost and time to access services and enable the Fund to become more efficient by drastically reducing the administrative cost of having to provide services physically,” said Dr Peter Kamunyo, CEO – NHIF. 

The NHIF mini-app is available under the “Discover” option in the M-PESA Super App and will be provided for free to all customers. To access services, customers will need to select the NHIF Mini-app, key in their details and review the “Terms and Conditions” to proceed.

“The M-PESA Mini-Apps are a key innovation designed to empower a customer to run different day-to-day tasks and errands from the convenience of their phone. We are delighted to partner with NHIF on this  M-PESA Mini App which will provide millions of customers with the convenience to access health insurance services on the go, saving them time and money,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO -Safaricom. 

Safaricom launched the M-PESA Super App in June 2021, providing M-PESA customers with a digital, more secure and convenient way to transact.

The Super App introduces additional M-PESA functionality including fingerprint and face authentication for transactions, Send to Many, on-demand statements, personal transaction notes, and access to hundreds of businesses through the Mini-Apps. More than 3.8 million customers have downloaded the M-PESA Super app since it was launched. 

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