Author: Jack Oduor

AI-generated deepfake enabled scammers set to conduct video calls with European leaders under false pretenses.  Deepfakes, which are highly realistic fabricated videos or images, can deceive voters, manipulate public opinion, and tarnish the reputation. Google’s reverse-image search is another helpful tool that enables you to check if an online image has been used elsewhere. Shortly before Slovakia’s parliamentary election in September last year, a viral audio recording circulated on Slovakian social media. In the recording, the leader of the Progressive Slovakia Party was heard discussing plans to manipulate the election and increase taxes on beer. (Slovakia is ranked sixteenth globally in…

Eight Kenyan universities have been selected as part of the World Bank’s $55.8 million SME formalisation project. In the World Bank plan, 267 young innovators’ students, 10 incubators, 10 accelerators, and 4 tech boot camp providers will be funded. The SKIES initiative started with a call for applications that attracted a total of 142 incubators. Eight Kenyan universities have been selected as part of the World Bank’s $55.8 million (KES7.5 billion) SME formalisation project to provide business development services to micro, small and medium enterprises. Kenya Industrial Entrepreneurship Project will implement the program through the Strengthening Kenya’s Innovation Ecosystem (SKIES).…

Kenya has already enlisted over 107,831 community health workers through the Ministry of Health. The target cohort of 25,000 will be trained in the first phase, according to the Resilient and Empowered African Community Health (REACH) initiative. REACH will be implemented in phases, aiming to boost skills of the 107,831 community health workers employed by the Government. Kenya has launched a community health initiative supported by the African Union geared to boosting primary health care at the grassroots, targeting under-served populations. The programme, under the auspices of the African Union (AU) Member States, is known as Resilient and Empowered African…

The Invest in African Energy forum will explore financing and development opportunities in Liquefied Petroleum Gas storage and distribution. With significant unmet demand for clean cooking access, the sub-sector represents a critical opportunity for global investors. Last December, Tanzanian Liquefied Petroleum Gas distributor Taifa Gas launched the construction of a $130-million, 30,000-metric-tonne LPG storage facility in Kenya. With more than 900 million Africans using biomass fuel and kerosene for cooking, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has emerged as a highly attractive and viable clean cooking solution. While still a fossil fuel, LPG burns more efficiently and produces fewer carbon emissions than…

The 2024 Sophos Threat Report shows data theft is the focus of most malware targeting small and medium businesses. Email attacks have moved away from simple social engineering toward more active engagement. According to the World Bank, over 90 per cent of the world’s businesses are small- and medium-sized organisations. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting data in a new trend in the online security space the 2024 Sophos Threat Report has shown.  The report by cybersecurity services firm Sophos sheds light on the dangers faced by small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the digital landscape. The 2024 Sophos Threat Report titled “Cybercrime on…

New regulations for crypto firms in Kenya will force players give evidence of sufficient working capital to continue business. Crypto firms will required to maintain core capital of not less than 12% of the total fiat value of the virtual assets held or proposed to be held in the custody of the platform. The Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Bill also proposes that businesses dealing in digital assets in the country be allowed to operate as commercial entities. Players in the digital assets and crypto currency space are now pushing for new regulations for crypto firms that will govern how…

Cairo-based lender CIB made this announcement during the first Egypt-Kenya forum held in Nairobi, Kenya. Egypt is shifting its economic strategy by enhancing collaboration with sub–Saharan Africa Kenya exports tea, coffee, nuts, meat, wheat and flowers, skin and hides as well as live animals to Egypt.. Lender Commercial International Bank (CIB) has identified partnerships as key drivers of growth that will power investments by bringing together businesses seeking to explore Egypt-Kenya trade opportunities. Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi says the entry of CIB into Kenya’s market is a major win for Africa’s quest to enhance trade among its 54…

In Kenya, a concerning 75.4% of women journalists have reported experiencing online harassment. Several sub-Saharan African countries have enacted national frameworks, such as the Cybercrimes Act to counter the menace. However, while legal frameworks provide avenues for recourse, more proactive measures are needed to combat online violence effectively. In an era dominated by digital platforms and social media, the rise of disinformation and online harassment poses significant challenges for journalists across the globe. According to Clarice Wambua, a lawyer at leading corporate and commercial law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) Kenya, this is especially true for women journalists in sub-Saharan…

The Bimalab Africa program is an innovation that brings together insurance innovators, technology partners, insurance firms, investors, and regulators. BimaLab Africa will expand its footprint to accelerate 55 insurtechs in 15 African countries. The initiative is dedicated to tackling pressing issues such as climate change, health, and gender disparities in the sector. The Bimalab Africa Insurtech accelerator program has received $600,000 (about KSh85.9 million) in funding to expand its operations across Africa. Following the fresh financing round by the Swiss Re Foundation, the program is now set to grow to cover 15 countries across the African continent from the initial…

This project is expected to improve and increase water supply from 96 per cent to 100 per cent in Tanga City. The government of Tanzania adopted the Alternative Project Financing (APF) strategy in 2021 Mark Napier, CEO of FSD Africa, commended the collaborative effort behind the Tanga UWASA Green Bond. The first ever Sub-national Water Infrastructure Green Bond in East Africa, worth $20.8 million, has been issued by Tanga Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Tanga UWASA), an autonomous water utility. This landmark transaction would fund the expansion and improvement of sustainable water supply infrastructure and environmental conservation within Tanga…