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How to purchase Airtel Kenya credit from an MPESA Paybill number

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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15
How to purchase Airtel Kenya credit from an MPESA Paybill number

Safaricom’s Mpesa mobile wallet is simply no match for the competition, we’ve got big names such as Telkom and Airtel providing ways in which their subscribers can purchase airtime through a paybill number from mpesa. Telkom Kenya has an operational paybill number through which customers can easily load airtime via mpesa while airtel is banking on several third-party firms for the same.

Considering the enormous popularity Mpesa is currently enjoying, it makes perfect sense businesswise for both Airtel and Telkom to offer an alternative to customers who may need to load airtime directly from their MPESA balance. And let’s face it, almost everyone with a Telkom or Airtel line always keeps a separate Safaricom line for MPESA services, the mobile wallet has become a household name that no one can just simply do without.

Airtel Kenya doesn’t have a dedicated paybill number to facilitate purchase of credit from rival Safaricom’s MPESA service, but has enabled several third parties to allow subscribers purchase airtime through Mpesa paybill numbers. Some may charge a small transaction fees but a majority like Pesapal will load the exact amount you’ve purchased.

Airtel Kenya Airtime Purchase MPESA PAYBILL numbers.

You can purchase Airtel airtime via MPESA from any of the following Airtel authorized third parties using respective PAYBILL numbers;

COMPANYPAYBILL NO
Pesapal220220
Cellulant867054
Myairtime256356
OnPhone710101
My Lilys supermarket309028
Jovan communication833030
Jonnel communication180705
Milton sons665511
Janada156076
Hope seed4019575
Okazaki156215

Step by step on how to buy airtel credit from mpesa using any of the above Paybill numbers

  • On your Safaricom phone, go to the M-pesa Menu
  • Then Select “Pay Bill” option
  • Input respective business or Paybill number such as “220220”
  • Enter your Account No. AIRTXXXXXX (Where XXXXXX is your Airtel Mobile number) i.e. AIRT0733000000 if your phone number is 0733000000
  • Key in the amount you intent to load as airtime
  • Enter your M-Pesa PIN then send

How to activate missed call alert “You attempted to call me” on Airtel Kenya network

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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15
How to activate missed call alert “You attempted to call me” on Airtel Kenya network

Once in a while, we all reach a point when for whatever reason we just need to be off-air for sometime and switch off our mobile phones or activate airplane mode. In such instances, mobile service providers in Kenya such as Safaricom and Airtel have implemented a smart way you’d still be alerted on a missed call, so you could decide whether to call back or ignore altogether depending on how important the caller is.

I remember a while back when an insurance agent for some reason kept calling during work time, sometimes while I was attending those tense work meetings and just couldn’t hold back from disconnecting the calls immediately. The problem was, the agent was so persistent I could get more than a dozen calls just in a span of two or three hours, something that led me to always be shutting down my phone or activate airplane mode whenever I was in a meeting. This is a perfect scenario on just have those missed call alerts could be a lifesaver.

The feature allows someone to be off-air but keeps them informed of whoever tried to call, with a simple text message. Safaricom has a similar feature that will send a text message “You attempted to call me but I was not available”. As long as you have an active SIM card on the airtel network, you can simply activate the “You attempted to call” of missed call alert (MCA) service with just a simple text message.  

How to activate missed call alert (MCA) “You attempted to call me” on Airtel Kenya network

Activation Steps:

  1. Compose Message: On your Airtel mobile phone, open the messaging app and compose a new text message.
  2. Type MCA: In the body of the message, type “MCA” (without quotes). This indicates your request to activate the Missed Call Alert service.
  3. Send to 555: Send the message to the short code “555”. This action informs Airtel that you want to enable the MCA service.
  4. Confirmation: You should receive a confirmation message indicating that the Missed Call Alert service has been successfully activated.

Deactivation Steps:

  1. Compose Message: Similarly, open the messaging app and compose a new text message.
  2. Type STOP: In the body of the message, type “STOP” (without quotes). This signals Airtel that you want to deactivate the Missed Call Alert service.
  3. Send to 555: Send the message to the short code “555”.
  4. Confirmation: Once again, expect a confirmation message confirming the deactivation of the Missed Call Alert service.

Additional Service – Voice Mail:

  • Voice Mail Activation: If you also want to activate Airtel’s Voice Mail services, compose a new text message with the word “VMS” and send it to “555”.

Note: Ensure you have an active SIM card on the Airtel network for these services to work.

By following these straightforward steps, you can customize your Airtel experience, staying informed about missed calls even when you’re temporarily unavailable. This feature can be particularly useful in scenarios where you need to manage calls without being constantly interrupted.

Telkom Kenya’s night and #StayWoke data bundles explained and how to subscribe

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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0
Telkom Kenya’s night and #StayWoke data bundles explained and how to subscribe

When Telkom Kenya introduced data packages that included free night bundles, subscribers didn’t really understand how they could utilize the free night bundles alongside their regular data subscriptions. Night time data packages are automatically activated when Telkom prepaid subscribers purchase any of the Mzito data packages or the freedom daily data package. Telkom’s free night data bundles are activated automatically having met any of the stated requirements between 10:00am and 6:00am.

Night time data bundles except the specified #StayWoke plans are awarded as an addon when Telkom subscribers opt into any of the Mzito packages or the freedom daily offer. Meaning, you still have to be on an active Mzito data plan or the freedom daily plan to activate the free night data bundles. The are a couple of freebies that come alongside including free WhatsApp and, in some cases, free minutes for Telkom-to-Telkom calls.

There are a few restrictions though on just how much data you’ll be allowed to consume under free night data bundles at optimal speeds. This is understood to be a measure aimed at curbing abuse on the network. You’ll be allocated a maximum of 10GB free night data at optimal speed before the fair usage policy kicks in and throttles speeds to prevent abuse. Furthermore, depending on the regular package you’ve signed up for, free night time data bundles are limited for a certain number of days.  

When Telkom unveiled these data packages sometimes last year, the CEO Mugo Kibati mentioned the packages had been innovatively designed to meet unique needs of customers, in line with the telco’s goal of building a holistic network that delivers value, fast speeds, capacity, quality and reliability.

Telkom has been steadfast in increasing 4G coverage within the country, partnering with Google to launch loon balloons that are expected to open up remote areas within the country to high-speed 4G broadband internet. The current timing has never been so critical with most organizations in the country heeding the government’s directive on social distancing and opting to allow staff work from home.

How to enjoy Telkom free night data bundles

  • Telkom subscribers can enjoy free data bundles between 10:00am and 6:00am by subscribing to any of the current Mzito data bundles just by dialing *544#
  • Carry out lightweight activities during regular periods and leave heavy downloads for free night bundles.

How Telkom subscribers can purchase subsidized 5GB night (#StayWoke) data bundles

  • From the Telkom app or dial *544# then select “#StayWoke” data bundle to subscribe, you can as well subscribe through the Telco’s website.

How much Telkom Kenya’s 5GB night data bundles cost?

This bundle will be charged at Ksh50 daily, and will be active between 10:00am and 6:00am. After the 5GB, subscribers’ will be charged Ksh 4.30 per MB.

Samsung Galaxy A31 now retailing for Ksh27,999 in Kenya, comes with a 5000mAh battery

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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0
Samsung Galaxy A31 now retailing for Ksh27,999 in Kenya, comes with a 5000mAh battery

Samsung’s “A “series lineup continue to gain traction with some interesting combinations of basic functionality and a mid-tier price tag. We’ve grown font of the series and always looking out for the next sequel, no wonder we’ve been so eager to get hold of the latest Samsung Galaxy A31. However, the same cannot be attested to power users out there who are more concerned on the next superior Samsung that’s hanging just around the corner – the Galaxy note 20. And for a good reason, Samsung has always had a diverse offering that you’d easily find all types of consumers looking forward to their next announcement.

In one of our recent editorial pitting the Nokia 5.3 against a cheaper alternative – the Tecno Spark 5, we had a taste of HMD’s quad-camera setup that interestingly offered more than enough and stood head-high with a reasonable price tag. The difference in prices is so obvious that we highly doubt consumers will see value in the Samsung Galaxy A31 unless they’re just going for the brand. That’s not to say Samsung Galaxy A31 is any less attractive within the mid-tier segment, it’s just slightly overpriced in comparison, something that might stand in the way for many consumers.

For Samsung fans, price shouldn’t be a hindrance though, the Galaxy A31 still has lots of love to offer if you fall within its intended niche. The model we had for our editorial is the Galaxy A31 SM-A315FZKVXFE which brings the dual SIM capability to users and packs 4GB RAM. It falls short of what some models of the Nokia 5.3 are offering, something we struggled to accept but there’s lots of things to love on the display panel

A brilliant screen makes us forget where Samsung Galaxy A31 fails

Some say, the display panel makes or breaks a device which is partly true. It’s one component you’ll mostly likely use for the lifetime of your device. The Galaxy A31 packs a brilliant display, showing-off some of Samsung’s impressive innovations in modern history – a FHD+ Super AMOLED panel. Samsung calls it Infinity-U Display that stretches as far as possible only giving way for a minimal notch at the top to accommodate an impressive 6.4 inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel.

A large battery that will last a day or two

Samsung put a large battery in this model that we expect to last long enough even for gamers. It’s one of the few models on the market that hit the 5000mAh mark. For that capacity, Samsung Galaxy A31 will most probably survive through the day even under strenuous conditions such as streaming or gaming, and if you start running low, plug in and power up with 15W Fast Charging.

A quad camera setup

Of all the magic that Samsung put on the Galaxy A31, we were not really amazed by the rear camera setup considering a quad setup has become a mainstream must have feature for the mid-rangers, even cheaper alternatives like the Spark 5 has it.  We were therefore just a bit moved but not shaken since lots of effort still has to go in for that impressive shot. We get a 48 Megapixels main camera, 5 Megapixels Depth camera, 8 Megapixels Ultra-wide camera and a 5 Megapixels Macro camera, there’s a detailed editorial on the different camera setups you should have a look.

Samsung Galaxy A31 Specifications

BODY DIMENSIONS159.3 x 73.1 x 8.6 mm (6.27 x 2.88 x 0.34 in)
 185 g (6.53 oz)
 Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
SCREENSuper AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)
PLATFORMAndroid 10, One UI 2.0
 Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz & 6×1.7 GHz)
MEMORYmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
MAIN CAMERA48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF
 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm
 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
 5 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
 LED flash, panorama, HDR
 1080p@30fps
SELFIE CAMERA20 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
 1080p@30fps
COMMUNICATIONWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
 5.0, A2DP, LE
 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go
SENSORSFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
BATTERYNon-removable Li-Po 5000 mAh battery
 Fast charging 15W
COLORSPrism Crush Black, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Red, Prism Crush White

Safaricom allows Businesses to make direct payments from their MPESA Till numbers

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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0
Safaricom allows Businesses to make direct payments from their MPESA Till numbers

Safaricom has unveiled a number of new features on the MPESA till number that will see businesses make direct payments to suppliers, pay utility bills, pay employees and send money to customers directly from their till number. The new features come at a crucial moment when most Kenyans are being encouraged to avoid handling cash as a measure to curb the spread of the current pandemic.

Previously, the MPESA till number could not allow seamless customer refunds or using the cash to make important payments without first having to withdraw to an MPESA number. With the new features, business owners will now be able to do more with their MPESA tills, something that was only possible from an MPESA registered number.

I remember once when I overpaid for a product through Mpesa till number and had to request for a refund. The refund had to undergo some unnecessary processes that took two days just to get my money back. It’s therefore a relief knowing that in case a mistake is made, on the customer’s side, business owners can issue a refund instantly without unnecessary steps.

The latest features dubbed “DoMoreWithMPESA”will enhance existing capabilities on the MPESA tills to allow businesses sent money directly from their MPesa till number. The service is available via the Bulk disbursement service (B2C), which is also instrumental in facilitating salary, sacco and dividend payments.

The new features will allow businesses to pay suppliers directly from the till, withdraw cash from an Mpesa agent, withdraw from bank and send money to their personal numbers.

The tool will also enable direct payment of suppliers from the till for goods and payment of utility bills. It will also allow a business person to withdraw cash from an MPesa agent, a bank or to send money to their phone number.

How businesses can transact directly from MPESA Till numbers to pay suppliers, employees or issue customer refunds

  • Businesses need to first opt in by dialing *234#
  • Then selecting option “2”
  • And signing up for MPESA business Till

APA insurance unveils a new agent app, here is what it means to agents and customers

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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0
APA insurance unveils a new agent app, here is what it means to agents and customers

Embracing technology in operations and services seems to have become the new norm today, and for a good reason. Kenyans have grown sensitive more than ever to commute here and there owing to the current global crisis and are more likely to prefer services of organizations that offer remote access without having to move to physical offices. It’s actually what propelled the likes of Safaricom’s MPESA to immeasurable success.

Imagine having to do all transactions ranging from payment of utility bills to transferring cash to other people right on your mobile phone without having to involve an agent or visit a physical location for that matter – that’s the power MPESA brought to Kenyans. Unfortunately, this is a domain that most insurance companies have terribly lacked behind and the current social distancing directives must have caught most of them pants-down. APA insurance is however aiming to turn the case around with a new agent app launch that’s expected to put basic services on your smartphone.

The latest app from APA insurance aims to empower motorists to make faster and safer insurance purchases as well as renewals and report claims. Over the years, insurance brokerage amongst Kenyans has been one of the most tedious endeavors when it comes to claims. In fact, some Kenyans have fallen victim of bogus insurance agents who never submit subscriptions or are never affiliated to the insurer at all but actively selling their policies. The introduction of online based services is therefore a sure way customers could directly interact with an insurer without becoming a victim of scammers.

Speaking on launch, the Chief Executive Officer of APA Insurance, Vinod Bharatan said the application was a strategic since most of APA’s clients and agents had switched to remote working, in line with the Government advice for people to work from home.

New features on the APA agent APP

The new APA agent app is expected to allow agents access a premium calculator, agent account management, pre-insurance inspection and renewal on the go, making them more effective and efficient when interacting with clients and potential clients. We’ve seen insurers in the medical sector such as Minet and Jubilee innovate on ways to continue offering services to customers without them visiting a physical office.

Demand for online services have since surged since the social distancing directives became effective and APA in particular has witnessed an increase for online services and the app aims to serve as a solution that provides customers with freedom and security online anytime, anywhere.

Bharatan also noted, with the increase of mobile apps as well as messaging services, the number users grow proportionately. He therefore concluded the company would leverage in-house digital capabilities to further elevate customers’ experience by taking digital services to the platforms of their choice.

How to access and use APA insurance agent app

The app is available from respective app stores and customers alongside agents may download and register for the service, their virtual account will be issued instantly.

Motorists will receive a digital insurance certificate instantly upon purchase or renewal. The dashboard is tailored to customer needs with a single overview providing access to payment history, benefits and claims details. In cases of an accident, customers can also upload accident photos and instantly file a claim report. The app provides coverage against fraud, safeguards and supports customers in case of defective or damaged online claims. The app also provides locations of APA’s country wide partner garages in case of an accident. The app can be downloaded here for android devices

Nokia 5.3 comes with a quad camera setup and costs around Ksh20,000 in Kenya

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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0
Nokia 5.3 comes with a quad camera setup and costs around Ksh20,000 in Kenya

Nokia’s journey to reclaim its lost glory has been a bumpy one largely due to worthy competition in the android world. But HMD global has performed better than we’d imagined, trouncing once regarded heavyweights like HTC by number of global sales. There are actually a couple of devices from HMD such as the latest Nokia 5.3 we’d easily use as our daily driver; it has all the spec’s that’s needed in a mid-tier handset, and to an average consumer, that’s all they’d hope for.

Nokia 5.3 made headlines when it opted for a quad-camera setup, something that’s almost shaping up to become a new normal in the smartphone world. There’s an interesting editorial written by tuvuti clarifying what these setups are capable of in comparison to once single sensors. But it’s still interesting to see a mid-tier phone bring bragging rights of multiple camera setups to the average consumer, we don’t expect photos taken by the setup to rival top-tier occupants such as the iPhone 11 Pro Max or the Galaxy S20 sequels, though it’s a good feeling to just know it’s there.

During the launch, HMD described the Nokia 5.3 as a phenomenal value, coupled with the magical quad-camera setup and the latest soc from Qualcomm® for mid-level devices – the Snapdragon™ 665. We don’t always take word-for-it when it comes to manufacturer stated battery life; however, having using more than a dozen Nokia devices, we expect the marketed signature two-day battery life to be close to the truth.

But we’re a bit hesitant to endorse HMD’s claim that Nokia 5.3’s supposed AI quad-camera setup will take brilliant photos under any circumstance. The same way we saw Huawei Nova 7i touted to be the best in its class; within ourselves, we know there’s a lot of effort needed in the software compartment to make those shots pop.  

And just as we saw in the Nova 7i, the wide-angle and macro lenses are aimed at helping users capture close-ups, or wide, scenic shots. Done with the marketing gimmick on the camera sector, we loved the fact that there’s a reasonable 6.55 inches of screen real estate for our media consumption. HDM also promises to put android 11 when released on the Nokia 5.3.

The phone does however perform better than a slightly cheaper Tecno Spark 5, and the price difference makes sense aiming higher rather than settling for the Tecno alternative

Nokia 5.3 specifications

BODY DIMENSIONS164.3 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 3.02 x 0.33 in)
 185 g (6.53 oz)
 Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
 Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
SCREENIPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio)
 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~268 ppi density)
 Corning Gorilla Glass 3
 450 nits typ. brightness (advertised)
PLATFORMAndroid 10, Android One
 Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)
 Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
 Adreno 610
MEMORYmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
 64GB 3GB RAM, some options have 4GB or 6GB RAM,
 eMMC 5.1
MAIN CAMERA13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
 5 MP, 13mm (ultrawide)
 2 MP, (macro)
 2 MP, (depth)
 LED flash, HDR, panorama
 1080p@30fps
SELFIE CAMERA8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
 1080p@30fps
COMMSWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX
 Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
 Yes
 FM radio
 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go
FEATURESFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity
BATTERYNon-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery
 Charging 10W
COLORSCyan, Sand, Charcoal

How to subscribe and redeem Ziada Points on Telkom Kenya network

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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2
How to subscribe and redeem Ziada Points on Telkom Kenya network

We’ve grown accustomed to loyalty programs that aim to reward customers for using products and services from a certain company, it’s actually a clever way to attract and retain customers. Ever since Safaricom unveiled Bonga points, other mobile service providers were quick to unveil their own reward schemes with Telkom Kenya opting for the Ziada points.

We’ve also seen retail outlets in the country such as Tuskys and Naivas issue customers with smart cards that collect points whenever they shop in any of their outlets country-wide, that can later be redeemed for cash or items. The idea behind loyalty points was brilliant, but the implementation from one organization to another differs in so many ways. Unlike mobile service providers such as Telkom Kenya’s Ziada points which automatically accumulate points upon using any of the Telco’s services, retail outlets have traditionally depended on the use of smartcards except for Carrefour’s brilliant app-based system.

Ziada points is a loyalty scheme for Telkom Mobile Prepaid subscribers where customers are rewarded for using Telkom services. And just like Bonga points, Ziada points can be redeemed for several goodies on Telkom’s network such as airtime that can be used across networks for calls, SMS and data.

For every Ksh.1 spent on Telkom services, you earn 1 Ziada point. For example, if you spent Ksh.1,000 you get 1,000 Ziada points that can be redeemed for goodies.

How to enroll to Telkom Kenya’s Ziada Points

You don’t need to do anything as long as you’re a Telkom prepaid subscriber. Points are earned automatically upon consuming Telkom products and services

What items, products or services you can redeem from Ziada points

  • You can redeem devices by visiting Telkom’s retail outlets and topping up cash purchases with Ziada points, Airtime and Data bundles

Redeemable airtime from Ziada Points

AirtimePoints
10199
20399
40799
601,199
801,599
1001,999
1502,999
2003,999
Dial *126# to redeem

Redeemable Data bundles from Ziada Points

DataZiada PointsValidity (Days)
Daily Freedom 1GB with free WhatsApp and Telkom Calls1,6491
Daily Freedom 2GB with free WhatsApp and Telkom Calls4,1497
Daily Freedom 3GB with free WhatsApp and Telkom Calls8,29930
Dial *126# to redeem

How to Redeem Ziada Points

  • On your Telkom phone, Dial *126# then follow prompts.
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