THE STANDARD
COMMENTARY
A user guide on how to access Safaricom s Fuliza loan
‘We have become beggars in our own country. Please Mpesa me something if you can’. This message came from a caddie friend of mine. He is a hardworking Kenyan who can no longer make ends meet because of the current economic situation in our country.
It is no surprise that Safaricom’s fuliza loans hit a record 1 billion daily. For millions of Kenyans, such credit was the only way of getting revenue.
Recently the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority was forced to backtrack its earlier announcement of fuel hikes. This move stemmed from widespread public anger over the looming price hike at a time when most Kenyans are struggling.
THE STANDARD By
Frankline Sunday |
April 6th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
M-Pesa agent in a shop along Nairobi s Koinange Street
Telecommunications service provider Safaricom is transforming M-Pesa into a global fintech in a move that will further launch the firm into the lucrative data analytics market.
The market is currently dominated by the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon and Alibaba.
This comes exactly a year after Safaricom and Vodacom announced the establishment of a joint venture to oversee the expansion of M-Pesa past the current 28 million user base and into international markets.
While signing the deal, the two firms said the partnership gives M-Pesa autonomy as a brand to pivot into an intelligent, cloud-based platform.
Technology and supermarket chains can help strengthen southern Africa’s food systems By Thando Vilakazi and Namhla Landani - 08 March 2021 Linking small-scale farmers to markets has been a challenge. Image: 123RF/Alexander Raths
Agriculture and agro-processing value chains have been under pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been particularly marked where they remain underdeveloped, as is the case in South Africa and the rest of the region.
Regulatory responses to the pandemic disrupted agriculture and agro-processing activities. For example, agro-processing systems have been slowed down by rigorous border checks. Some countries, including South Africa, closed land border posts. Curfews and social distancing protocols also caused labour shortages, which in turn affected productivity.
Technology and supermarket chains can help strengthen southern Africa’s food systems 07 March 2021 - 13:30 By Thando Vilakazi and Namhla Landani Linking small-scale farmers to markets has been a challenge. Image: 123RF/Alexander Raths
Agriculture and agro-processing value chains have been under pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been particularly marked where they remain underdeveloped, as is the case in South Africa and the rest of the region.
Regulatory responses to the pandemic disrupted agriculture and agro-processing activities. For example, agro-processing systems have been slowed down by rigorous border checks. Some countries, including South Africa, closed land border posts. Curfews and social distancing protocols also caused labour shortages, which in turn affected productivity.
By
Stephen Nzioka |
February 24th 2021 at 11:44:22 GMT +0300
Courtesy
Two M-Pesa agents were on Tuesday evening shot by robbers in Kibwezi.
In one incident, Henry Makau, 23, was shot and died on the spot. In a separate incident, a woman identified as Rahab Mwihaki, 46, was shot in the head.
According to Kibwezi sub-county police commander Ben Chagulo, the woman was rushed to hospital where she is currently undergoing treatment.
“The shooting was reported by a member of public and police rushed the woman to Kibwezi sub-county hospital where she is recuperating,” said Chagulo.
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