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KCB MPESA Borrowers get an interest hike from 4.08 to 7.5 Percent

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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KCB MPESA Borrowers get an interest hike from 4.08 to 7.5 Percent

KCB MPESA borrowers will effectively pay more for their mobile loans after the lender adjusted interest rates upwards from 4.08 percent to 7.5 percent. The platform has experienced an impressive following due to the attractive interest rates as well as convenience for mostly business owners who needed short term loans to boost their businesses. KCB MPESA has mostly served as a cheaper alternative to Mshwari which is also available on Safaricom’s mobile wallet platform.

Kenyan’s using the platform were surprised on the new development with some arguing the lender did not utilize the platform well to shield “good” borrowers from such hikes. In some instances, you’d imagine defaulters to be subjected to such hikes while those in good books enjoying some form of assurance.

The interest hike is staggeringly high especially for those with higher limits and as such if you borrowed Ksh. 40,000 under the previous rates, you’d be expected to pay back with an interest of Ksh. 1,632 compared to the new regime rates where borrowing a similar amount means you’ll have to pay Ksh. 3,001.60 instead.

KCB MPESA was viewed as an effective option to MPESA customers in need of short term loans at an attractive low interest rate. Just like Mshwari, KCB MPESA was embedded within Safaricom’s mobile money technology where users weren’t required to download a separate app from the store to access loans. It basically relied on the same platform users utilized to send money, pay for items and so forth.

Message Notifications to Customers

KCB had communicated the changes to current customers via text messages informing them on the implications to both defaulters and those on good books.

Lenders utilizing mobile platforms have seen their products grow impressively that has caused a major spur in the sector with the likes of banks and saccos joining in on the bandwagon. Some of the products that are performing well in the segment include; Tala, Branch, M-shwari among others.

While CBA’s Mshwari charges have remained at a 7.5 per cent interest, Barclays’ Timiza (6.17 per cent) KCB MPESA always seemed as the go to solution with almost half the rate. Recently, the Central Bank of Kenya partnered with a few lenders to unveil Stawi – a mobile loan facility that charges interest of nine per cent, plus facility fees of four per cent, insurance cost of 0.7 per cent and excise duty at 20 percent

New Safaricom Home Fiber Customers to enjoy 50 percent discount on Monthly Packages

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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New Safaricom Home Fiber Customers to enjoy 50 percent discount on Monthly Packages

Home internet market segment just got a little heated after Safaricom announced plans to halve prices for new customers joining its home fiber network. In a bid to popularize the uptake of its home internet solution, Kenyan’s opting into Safaricom’s home fiber within the next two months (August and September) will realize a 50 percent discount.

Speaking on the promotion, Safaricom’s new acting Chief Executive Michael Joseph noted that the home fiber solution that began about two years back was enabling customers to have a new experience in home internet. He also acknowledged the telecom giant has unveiled a 50 percent discount to appeal to those who would like to experiment and try out the service. Lastly, Michael Joseph compared the impressive growth of unlimited entertainment, working at home, home CCTV among other emerging customer needs that require stable internet connection.

How new Customers can get 50 percent discount on Safaricom’s Home Fiber

  • As per the promotion, new customers to qualify for the offer must subscribe to the product within the next two months (August and September).
  • New Customers Must Dial *400# and choose “Get Safaricom Home Fibre”.
  • The Bronze package will entitle customers to a one-month half-price offer while
  • New customers on the Silver, Gold, and Diamond packages will enjoy two months at the 50 percent off pricing.

Zuku is currently the market leader in connected internet within the country but has increasingly been facing stiff competition from Safaricom which enjoys a massive capital at its disposal. The likes of Jamii Telkom which entered the segment a little earlier have already been over-taken by Safaricom which not only has appealing prices but rapidly expanding its network within the country.

Safaricom is also continuing to extend its fibre coverage to more than 15,000 additional homes across the country within the next two months. Some of the areas to be covered include parts of Kisumu and Thika, Kizingo in Mombasa, and Kinoo, Komarock and Ruaka in Nairobi. The service currently reaches more than 300,000 homes across the country, with more than 107,000 customers connected across Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri and Thika.

Safaricom Home Fiber Prices and Offers

Package Speed Pricing Month 1 Offer Month 2 Offer
Bronze* 5 Mbps KES. 2,900 KES. 1,450 –
Silver 10 Mbps KES. 3,999 KES. 1,999 KES. 1,999
Gold 20 Mbps KES. 5,699 KES. 2,849 KES. 2,849
Diamond 40 Mbps KES. 11,499 KES. 5,749 KES. 5,749

*Bronze customers to enjoy 50% off for one month at KES. 1,450

KCB Bank Customers to enjoy WhatsApp Interactions through the Digital Customer Service platform

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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KCB Bank Customers to enjoy WhatsApp Interactions through the Digital Customer Service platform

The Kenya Commercial Bank customers are expected to enjoy new ways of customer care interactions to access services previously only available through traditional methods such as email and telephone. The move is expected to bring on board one of the most popular messaging systems as a method that customers could easily contact the bank’s customer care center to access services on what it calls – “a different level”.

Several telco companies in the country have been exploiting additional methods that customers’ can access services on the go by utilizing technologies that come with increased penetration of internet enabled smartphones. A few months back, we witnessed Safaricom employ the Zuri Chat Bot that gave customers access to support services that were previously only accessible via their contact center or email, that was a territory we could only associate with Zuku’s telegram option.

WhatsApp is by far one of the most popular platforms utilized on mobile devices amongst the youth and by adding the service to their contact platform, KCB care agents will now be able to offer support services to customers. This became possible after the top bank in the country employed services of the Digital Customer Service platform which is designed by Sparkcentral – the customer experience solutions provider with Headquarters in San Francisco, US.

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) will therefore become one of the few top African financial institutions to be approved for the WhatsApp Business solution. The platform will become part of the bank’s customer interactions platform, allowing KCB to leverage on one of the most-used messaging systems and take communications to the next level as part of an overall digital transformation effort.

Other messaging services utilized by KCB

Besides the valuable addition of WhatsApp, KCB customers can make enquiries on services through popular messaging services such as Facebook’s Messenger, Instagram, Twitter as well as through a bi-directional SMS and modern live chat.

While speaking on the development, Kenya Commercial Bank’s Customer Experience Director Job Njiru said the bank was defining ways the institution could offer services to customers through its digital transformation efforts. He also added the addition of WhatsApp to the platform was critical in delivering excellent services by allowing the bank collect real time data on customers, then analyze and use it to make informed decisions on how to improve their operations on an ongoing basis.

He also acknowledged the move will combine enterprise scalability with ease of use, making it a smart investment in terms of the bank’s long-term growth. The move was driven by the need to see customers get answers and information they need from KCB as quickly and conveniently as possible and on the platforms they want,” he added.

WhatsApp enjoys a massive usage in the world with over 1.5 billion monthly active users, making it a dominant platform in markets such as Africa, Europe, and South America.

Xiaomi Mi A3 is now official, here is what you need to know before buying

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Xiaomi Mi A3 is now official, here is what you need to know before buying

Xiaomi unveiled a new member to its budget themed “A” series smartphone with a rather surprising package that’s obviously destined to please many – at least from the spec sheet. Entering the lineup is the all new Xiaomi Mi A3 that comes loaded with some features most of us find interesting as well as minor flaws that helped keep prices within reach for average Kenyans. Interestingly, the new “A” series device costs just a fraction of similar spec devices we consider flagships, in Kenya for example, we expect prices not to surpass the KS. 25,000 mark. And as most of us in the tech-world can confidently advise; for that price, it’s worth your consideration.

 For those who’ve had a Xiaomi A series handset can attest to just how the manufacturer is keen on keeping prices low while cutting as low corners as possible, but as we all have come to appreciate, not everything is to notch and this might concern some of you – especially the so called power users. Currently, there are two devices preceding the new Xiaomi Mi A3 smartphone within the “A” series lineup, basically covering the entry level base for the manufacturer.

Xiaomi Mi A3 has cut some corners to keep prices low

Cutting corners isn’t always a bad thing, especially if it results in reduced prices. There are some obvious omissions on this device and its upon consumers to decide whether it deserves a second chance or a pass basing on what they are really looking for. Unlike the highly regarded Xiaomi smartphones that come equipped with Xiaomi’s MIUI android skin, the Xiaomi Mi A3 opts for Google’s “Android One” instead. Depending on how you look at it, it could either please or disappoint but one thing is for sure – since its stock android underneath, you’d get two years of OS updates – something that’s not guaranteed on other android based devices.

Xiaomi Mi A3 Design

Instead of the almost extinct large bezel design, Xiaomi is going for notch instead. Shaped like a tiny teardrop, the notch at the top of the phone is used to house a selfie camera. While at the bottom, you’ll get a medium-sized bezel and rounded display corners. Both the front and back are made of Gorilla Glass 5 which sits uniform across except for the triple camera setup on the back. Underneath the display is an optical fingerprint reader. Xiaomi Mi A3 comes in three colors; White, Gray, and Blue. According to Xiaomi, here’s a “nano-level holographic pattern” on the blue and white models.

The Mi A3 is powered by Snapdragon 665 SoC that unveiled back in April and uses eight of Qualcomm’s custom “Kryo 260” cores (based on the Cortex-A73 design) at 2GHz, along with Adreno 610 GPU, all built on a 11nm manufacturing process. You’ll get 4GB of RAM, a 4030mAh battery, a USB-C port and comes equipped with both an IR blaster, and a MicroSD slot. There are two options when it comes to internal storage; 64GB or 128GB. The rear triple camera setup uses a 48MP sensor for the main shooter, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP depth camera. The selfie camera is 32MP.

Display Panel

Remember when I talked about cutting corners? Well the screen resolution is definitely the main culprit at 1560×720 on 6.1inches, though we loved the fact it’s OLED meaning blacks are really black and for the price, it comes down to personal preference.

The future of Slots

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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The future of Slots

Slot machines have come a very long way since Charles Fey produced the first game in 1895 and with numerous updates, mainly with regards to technology, slots are one of the most popular games found in both brick-and-mortar and online casinos. Whether you’re playing video slots, progressive slots, Vegas slots or participating in a slots tournament, there’s no denying the thrill and excitement of watching the reels spin and seeing which winning combinations will appear. But where do developers go next? What does the future of slots potentially hold? Read on and we’ll list some of the possibilities.

Cryptocurrencies as payment

There’s still a hype around cryptocurrencies and in the same way that gamers love the convenience of playing in online casinos, there’s also a convenience about paying with virtual money. Although some casinos already accept cryptocurrencies, we can certainly see them being far more prominent in the future. But why are they so advantageous, or seen as beneficial?

Well, they are seen as a safer option, as users aren’t required to provide personal details such as their home address, phone number or bank details. Secondly, they are instantaneous, so rather than waiting three or more working days to receive a withdrawal via a bank transfer, a transaction via an e-wallet could take only a number of hours. There are also no transaction limits and are available worldwide. Need we go on?

The use of virtual reality

Virtual reality is seen as the future of casinos, providing players with the ultimate gaming experience. Imagine putting on a headset and mimicking the sights and sounds of a brick-and-mortar casino from the comfort of your own home – how cool would that be?

Imagine walking around the casino, surrounded by your fellow slots fans and being able to control things the same way you would in a standard casino: adjust your stake, select your pay-lines and utilise the autoplay function, if you’d like. But the most exciting part is when you land a winning combination. Watch the symbols come to life and burst out of the screen, with your winnings falling around you. A truly immersive experience for all of your senses and one that is certainly an exciting prospect.

The use of voice control

We find voice control everywhere – on our mobile phones, computers, home hubs and sat-nav systems – but what about the use of voice control in the casino world? Imagine telling your casino to launch a specific table game, or asking your slot portal to spin the reels. Obviously, it probably wouldn’t be ideal if you’re gaming on-the-go, sat at a bus stop or in a public place and you don’t want others to know what you’re doing; but if you’re sat at home, it seems like another convenient option.

Skill-based games

Slots are very much based on luck, you don’t need to know any specific terminology, rules or have experience of spinning the reels. This makes them a great option for newbies; but what about those experienced players that demand more, or find the action a little too repetitive?

How about skill-based games where players can try and better their score, or others’ scores. Slots tournaments are already in existence and add a competitive element, even if it isn’t directly skill-based. But having a slot game, whereby your skill level dictates how you get on in a bonus round or side-game seems like a good option to us. It will add more excitement to the game, while adding another element of competition, to freshen up an otherwise mundane game to keep even the most ardent slots fan happy. What do you think? Is there anything we’ve missed out or anything you’d like to see? Leave us a comment below with your suggestions.

How Little Cab drivers can own Smartphones at affordable rates through “Pata Simu Lipa Mdogo Mdogo” Program

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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How Little Cab drivers can own Smartphones at affordable rates through “Pata Simu Lipa Mdogo Mdogo” Program

Taxi hailing firm – Little Cab has partnered with Pioneer Credit to enable drivers on its platform be able to own quality advanced smartphones at quite reasonable rates. The move allows drivers operating on the Little Cab’s platform purchase handsets on credit thanks to Pioneer Credit – a local firm in the financial services sector.  

The program which is dubbed “Pata Simu Lipa Mdogo Mdogo” allows drivers to acquire decent quality handsets by following a simple three-minute application process. Divided into five categories, drivers will access credit to purchase devices that cost between KS. 10,000 and KS. 20,000. There are several taxi hailing apps in Kenya with Uber claiming the most users followed by Taxify (Bolt) that require both riders and drivers to have their respective apps installed on their smartphones.

Since users can only access services thorough installed apps, both riders and drivers must therefore have smartphones that run iOS or android to install from their respective app stores. To the common Kenyan, owning a quality smartphone could be a stretch on their savings and “Pata Simu Lipa Mdogo Mdogo” program couldn’t have come at a better time. Smartphones have introduced technologies that create employment for those who are in a position to take heed of the opportunities – but these opportunities aren’t always cheap.  

While speaking on the development at the signing of memorandum of understanding, Little Cab’s Managing Director Alex Mwaura indicated that drivers will now work efficiently while conducting their day to day business. He also added that Little Cab drivers will have access to quality smartphones that in the end will improve their service delivery.

How Little Cab drivers can apply for Pata Simu Lipa Mdogo Mdogo program

  • On your device, dial *454# then proceed with registration if currently not registered and proceed with prompts
  • The process should take less than 3 minutes
  • Drivers can then verify their details before they select one out of five different models of mobile handsets.
  • Once the process complete, drivers will then be directed to an outlet to pick their handset within a few hours
  • Payments will then be remitted using the driver’s handset on a daily or weekly basis for a period of three months.

Pioneer Credit Executive Chairman Evans Nyagah indicated the company was keen to grow “Pata Simu Lipa Mdogo Mdogo” product and expand to various regions within the county and potentially to the different Taxi companies that operate here in Kenya. He also acknowledged the program was going to benefit taxi drivers by allowing them carryout their operations in a more efficient manner.

Drivers opting into this program will have their devices insured through Kenya Orient from theft or damage. In the end, it’ll guarantee continuity of business for drivers in case of damage or theft.

Safaricom has suspended SportPesa’s 955100 and 955700 PayBill Numbers

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Safaricom has suspended SportPesa’s 955100 and 955700 PayBill Numbers

Kenyan’s trying to deposit cash into their SportPesa accounts are currently receiving a failed error message from Safaricom informing them, that the two Pay Bill numbers are unvailable following the government’s directive. The move comes days after the cabinet secretary of internal security Matiangi issued new orders compelling all gambling firms to reapply for their licenses, which was to be issued only after compliance with the tax man.

Recently, several betting companies in Kenya including SportPesa and Betin have been embroiled in court orders with the Kenya Revenue Authority on the exact amount the tax man is supposed to receive from the firms.

The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) had ordered Safaricom to suspend M-Pesa pay bills and SMS short codes for 27 betting firms including owing to the authority’s refusal to renew their operating licenses. The regulator had indicated that a total of 27 firms were yet to meet licensing conditions and were being vetted to establish if they are fit to hold gambling permits.

On its part, SportPesa through its senior content editor Ms Lola Okulo had reaffirmed that the firm is law-abiding and had paid and met all tax and regulatory requirements. She also added the betting firm was continuing to address the matter with industry regulators and stakeholders. Ms Okulo further pointed out that an order from the High Court of Kenya allowed the firm to continue with its operations uninterrupted.

SportPesa Paybill numbers 955100 and 955700 are unavailable;

Mpesa users depositing money in their SportPesa accounts are getting a failed message from Safaricom as quoted below;

“Failed. Dear Customer, this Paybill is unavailable due to the Government directive to suspend Betting Paybill numbers. Kindly contact your Betting Company,” read a response from Safaricom.

Withdrawals from the blocked betting firms seems to be working so far and we also understand that Safaricom had sort clarification from the betting and licensing board through its lawyers to place a public notice and delay suspending withdrawals so that Kenyans could withdraw funds from the affected companies.

Kenyan’s often find it easier to deposit cash into their betting accounts through mobile platforms technologies such as Mpesa and Airtel Money since transactions are completed right on their mobile devices. It’ll be very difficult for a common Kenyan to deposit money without mobile wallets since alternative methods are ambiguous, inaccessible and often unreliable.

Below is the official statement from SportPesa;

SportPesa is extremely disappointed by the recent malicious actions by Betting Control & Licensing Board (BCLB) to block our payments systems despite the existence of a court order. This is the latest in a series of abrupt measures from BCLB that only serve to discourage and disrupt business. The prejudicial process that has been followed by the regulator has the potential to drive the industry underground as well as have far reaching repercussions on the social and economic agenda of the country.

SportPesa has been fully compliant with all tax and legal requirements in Kenya. Our business has uniquely and consistently boosted sports development in the country and we have not minced our support in community investment. This as witnessed by our widespread impact in areas such as football, boxing, rugby and social projects involving water access, environment and skills uplift in the country. These are now at severe risk following the measures taken by BCLB. We wish to assure our customers and stakeholders that we are challenging these actions and remain in contact with key stakeholders with the aim of resolving this matter very soon.

 

How to Stop Unwanted Promotional Messages on your Safaricom Line

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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How to Stop Unwanted Promotional Messages on your Safaricom Line

Have you been experiencing an increase in the number of unsigned for promotional messages on your Safaricom line? Well, as it turns out, you are not alone. Notwithstanding where they got our contact details, several businesses in Kenya have embarked on an aggressive adventure to woo Safaricom subscribers with irrelevant promotions regardless of whether someone opted in or not. Personally, I’m that kind of a guy that strives to maintain things a little bit organized and relevant in my inbox and lately I’ve really been struggling, at least until I discovered a way to go around the problem by a USSD Code.

If at some point you’ve been irritated by such spamming in your inbox, there’s an ample way you could stop promotional messages on the Safaricom network. It doesn’t require some expertise skills but just your phone with a Safaricom line and the name of the sender of promotional messages. And if you mistakenly block senders relevant to you or those you’d like to receive their promotions, there’s always a way to unblock them.

Irrelevant Promotional Messages;

Not all promotional messages are spam, in fact, there are some that could be containing very important information that could save you several bucks for example. Consider a text message containing a current promotion that concerns your data plan for example, or plane tickets and so forth that you’ve really been longing for. At the same time, think of a person from a certain religious affiliation receiving promotional messages to subscribe and receive inspirational quotes from a different unrelated religion! It could be bothersome even just thinking about it, and as someone once said; technology comes with both good and bad tidings, we just have to embrace what’s good and block what’s bad.

How to Stop Unwanted Promotional Messages on Safaricom line

  • On your safaricom line, Dial *456# then select “STOP” from the list
  • After responding with the digit corresponding to your choice i.e. 9, select “PROMOTIONAL MESSAGES” and proceed
  • Next choose “Stop Promotional Messages” followed entering the senders name for example; “200974” or “ORIGINALWIN” then send.
  • You’ll receive a confirmation message from Safaricom
  • And if for some reason you’d like to unblock the sender, just repeat this steps but instead of “Stop Promotional Messages” select “Check Stopped Promotional Messages” and select the sender you’d like to reactivate.
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