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How to pay MPESA Till Number using Buy Goods option from Airtel and Telkom networks

Over the last couple of days, you must have seen some marketing activities relating to now being able to pay for your bills via Mpesa Till numbers using Telkom Kenya’s T-Kash or Airtel money options. The service has been enabled through Merchant interoperability that now allows Safaricom’s MPESA Tills to accept payments from other networks. All you need to do, is to navigate to your respective mobile money provider menu and look for the MPESA TILL option and seamlessly complete your transaction.

There have been several concerns on just how influential MPESA has been given it currently occupies more than 80 percent of the mobile money transactions in the country. In fact, latest reports indicate efforts by the government to have the service split from its parent company Safaricom to avoid the telco enjoying undue advantage over other service providers.

How to pay for your bill on MPESA TILL number using Telkom Kenya’s T-Kash

On your mobile phone, follow below process and complete your transactions.

  • Dial *160#
  • On the next option, select “Buy Goods and Services”
  • Choose “Use MPESA TILL”
  • Enter the Till number and complete the transaction

How to pay for your bill on MPESA TILL number using Airtel Money

Follow below process if you are on the Airtel Kenya network.

  • Dial *222*
  • Select “Lipa na Airtel Money” on the next options
  • Select Pay Goods, MPESA Till
  • Enter the respective MPESA buy Goods Till number
  • Complete your transaction

Paying via MPESA remains the same, where you just need to go to MPESA menu and select Lipa na Mpesa followed by Buy Goods, then entering Till number.

Halal Pesa, everything you need to know about Safaricom’s Shariah compliant product

Kenyans have become accustomed to Safaricom’s Fuliza product to the extend its even hard to imagine those days when it didn’t exist. Mobile money services in Kenya have had their share of both criticism as well as credit, there’s so much evil and good associated with them in equal measure. With all these mixed reactions, one thing remains true, mobile money-based services have revolutionized how Kenyans transact daily. Halal Pesa is Safaricom’s response to introduce a product that is specifically designed to accommodate our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Unlike traditional overdraft facilities which attract all sorts of additional charges, Halal Pesa is designed to meet the requirements of Shariah but at the same time remain sustainable to both Safaricom and the Gulf African Bank which is its main partner on the service. The product is expected to earn Safaricom and the Gulf African Bank five percent in profit without attracting additional costs on the subscriber.

How Halal Pesa works

Just like the likes of Fuliza and M-Shwari, Safaricom subscribers with an MPESA account can easily sign-up for the service and stand to receive up to Ksh20,000, which is paid back with an additional 5 percent. Customers will then have to pay back within a span of 30 days. I’ts designed to be in line with other Islamic financial products which do not accrue interest but instead levy a margin or profit. This makes Halal Pesa more competitive than similar MPESA products such as M-Shwari loans which is a partnership between NCBA Bank and Safaricom. Current M-Shwari charges include a fee of 7.5 percent and 1.5 percent excise duty, although M-Shwari also allows clients to save money while Halal Pesa specializes on financing.

How to Access Halal Pesa credit facility

If you already are an MPESA user, then subscribing to the service should be a no-brainer. The service is available mini–App. Safaricom subscribers will initially be provided with a personalized facility limit based on their M-Pesa usage. And just like M-shwari and KCB-MPESA, the limit can be increased based on a customer’s usage of Halal Pesa. Halal Pesa can be accessed both as Mini App under the “Grow” option on the M-PESA Super App and by dialling *334# under “Loans and Savings”.

Itel A14 and Safaricom Neon Ray 2 are the only smartphones below Ksh.5,000 that make sense in 2022

The value consumers get from a smartphone within a specific price range has never been consistent as expected, the handset you’d get for s certain price tag the previous year is often not the same as what you’d be looking at now. And this scenario has spiraled beyond the flagship genre to the very bottom level of mobile phones. As of today, looking for a smartphone device under Ksh. 5,000 here in Kenya could prove to be a daunting task without looking into the Chinese copycat market.

When I was requested by a senior relative of mine to shop for him a good handset below Ksh. 5,000 here in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, I had very little hope of exciting him without looking into the fake Chinese made smartphones that are filled within the retail shops on our streets. And of course, me being me, I set my target to get an original offering that could at least last him for the next 2 or so years. I had to narrow down my target as the range of devices within this genre are limited.

First of all, I knew my options only existed within the android world. And therefore, I set my target to Safaricom shops – along Moi Avenue to be precise as my first stop. Anyone looking to get an original phone without having to pay more attention, this is usually their very first stop. I was offered three devices for my budget, the Safaricom Neon Ray 2, Itel A16 and the Itel A14 with an option of topping up with Bonga Points. The Safaricom Neon Ray 2 was priced at Ksh. 4,500 while the Itel A14 would have seen me part with Ksh. 5,500. On the other hand, the Itel A16 was way above budget at Ksh. 6,300.

I proceeded to several shops along Moi Avenue and the prices ranged around the same as Safaricom’s. Only two devices made sense at that moment, either to get the Neon Ray 2 or the Itel A14. One peculiar thing about Safaricom’s devices though, was that they’re all SIM LOCKED, meaning you’ll be stuck with their SIM cards as long as you use those devices. To me this was a major bummer, and therefore settled on the Itel A14 instead.

Itel A14 specifications

  • 4inches WVGA display screen
  • 512MB RAM, 16GB internal storage
  • Android 10 Go edition
  • 2MP Rear Camera, 0.3MP Front Camera
  • 2500mAh battery
  • Dual SIM (unlocked)

Neon Ray 2 Specifications

  • 5inches display screen
  • 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage
  • Android 10 Go edition
  • 2000mAh battery
  • 5MP rear camera, 2MP front Camera
  • Single SIM (locked to Safaricom network)

Best Forex Brokers in Kenya

Even though getting into the forex market is quite simple and straightforward, one of the most important things you’ll need to do before you begin is find the right broker. After all, with the best broker, you can rest assured that you’ll have the tools and support you need to make smart trades in a timely fashion, so you can hopefully increase profits and reduce the risk of losses as you work with various currency pairs. If you’re ready to start your search for the broker that will help you get into the forex market, regardless of your experience level, continue reading to access a list of brokers that might give you just what you need.

  1. HotForex – 5 stars

First up is HotForex. Based on our research, this is the best forex broker 2022. Also, this is a broker that can be a good choice for those who are new to the world of forex. With the demo account, you can begin to get a feel for what it is like trading currency pairs. And because you can use the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, you can also gain access to a lot of tools that can help you make smarter decisions when it comes to your trades. There are many currency pairs that you can trade with HotForex, and the low fees are definitely a nice feature as well. Overall, this can be a good option for traders of all experience levels, so consider checking it out.

2. Oanda – 4.5 stars

Oanda is another forex broker that can help you get started or help you take your trading strategy to the next level, so it is worth considering this company regardless of how experienced you are. The platform offered allows you to trade on your computer or mobile device, and you can trade more than 70 currency pairs with ease, thanks to the various tools that are provided to you as well. Opening an account is quick and easy and the trading fees are low. But there are inactivity fees to keep in mind, so if you are not planning on staying active on the platform, this might not be the ideal option.  

3. XTB – 4 stars

Yet another forex broker that you might want to consider using is XTB. When you go to this company’s website, you will have the option to set up your account or create a demo account to see how you like it. If you decide to go with XTB, you will gain access to the Web Trade Platform, which is easy to use, along with an app for desktop and a convenient mobile app that you can use to keep track of your trades even when you aren’t home. Plus, this broker provides 24/7 customer support, so if you run into any questions or have any concerns, you can get in touch with them at any time.

There Are a Lot of Things to Look for in a Forex Broker

There are several things to consider as your search for the best forex broker. For instance, it’s wise to go with a broker that’s regulated and has been around long enough to prove that it can support customers and provide the highest quality services. Reading customer reviews, in addition to a broker’s website, can be really helpful because you can gain insight into how people feel about the company before deciding to go with it. You might discover that a broker that sounds great on a website doesn’t actually deliver on its promises.

In addition to looking into whether or not a forex broker is regulated, there are also a range of other details to consider, such as the fees that you’ll incur, the number of currency pairs you can trade, if there’s a mobile app that makes trading on the go a snap, and which platform you’ll use. It’s also a good idea to look into whether or not the broker is available to provide customer service in case you need help.

Take Your Time and Choose a Forex Broker Carefully

This is just a short list of the many forex brokers that are out there. As you do your research and compare your options carefully, you will begin to get a better idea of which broker would be appropriate for you. No matter what, take your time rather than rush into this because choosing a great broker is ultra-important. And, if you are having trouble figuring out which broker you should go with, consider consulting with individuals who have a lot of experience in forex. They might be able to give you more insight into the pros and cons of different brokers.

Ultimately, finding the best forex broker that will give you access to the market is critical, so this is not a decision that you should take lightly.

CBK to force Safaricom’s Lipa na MPESA service accept payments from other sources

Safaricom’s Lipa na MPESA service is probably the most used payment solution here in Kenya, the service is so common nowadays that it’ll be almost impossible to get a business entity that doesn’t have it as a payment option. And while it does make things a little simpler in the world of mobile payment options, the service has sort of created a monopoly for Safaricom in that you can’t directly use any other source to make payments without first having to transfer the cash to an MPESA wallet.

According to the latest move by Kenya’s financial regulator – the Central Bank of Kenya you’ll soon be able to make Lipa na MPESA payments from other sources without necessarily having to go through MPESA wallet. What this means is, instead of moving cash from your bank account to MPESA wallet to make a PayBill or Buy Goods transaction, you’ll soon be able to directly make these payments directly from your bank account. The Central Bank of Kenya intents to unveil a national payment system that will allow seamless cash transfers through merchants regardless of where the money is coming from at least by 2024.

In a nutshell, the move basically means, you’ll be able to make payments from the likes of Airtel Money and T-Kash through Safaricom owned Pay Bill numbers. Safaricom has for years dominated the mobile payment market, making most subscribers depended on it that proved to have devastating implications on the competition. While other service providers offer competitive services such as data and call rates, Kenyans have mostly been forced to have Safaricom’s line to be able to access its vast mobile payments service, a practice that has negatively impacted the competition.

And while other service providers such as Airtel have their own payment solutions such as Lipa na Airtel Money, they are not as widely available compared to Lipa na MPESA. According to the financial regulator, mobile payments solutions have been affected by lack of interconnection that would have otherwise enabled merchants to accept payments from any sources.

The interoperability — the ability of different IT systems to communicate and exchange data — is expected to largely benefit Airtel which is the second largest service provider in the country by accessing a share of mobile money payments made through merchants as well as deepening financial inclusion.

And of course, this development won’t sit well with Safaricom, which has been hesitant to open up its mobile payments platform to rivals, that would expose its lucrative M-PESA mobile money platform to stiff competition.

Huawei unveils Nova 9 in Kenya, boasts a 50MP ultra vision camera system

Huawei has finally unveiled the Nova 9 in Kenya with a steep asking price of Ksh. 65,999. The handset is set to become available across the country in major retail outlets as well as Huawei’s own experience stores within the coming weeks. It’s impressive how the company has struggled to shade-off a cloud placed by the US administration when it was barred from doing business within the country.

Looking at the spec sheet, there’s quite a lot to love about the Nova 9, but that doesn’t mean it checks every aspect you’d likely hope in a smartphone. To start with, we must address the elephant in the room, Huawei devices have lacked an official Google Play store app ever since it rubbed US authorities the wrong way. And to be honest, the Huawei App Gallery still has miles to go compared to the two major app stores on smartphones.

According to Huawei Mobile Kenya Head Jim Zhujie, their latest handset boasts an innovative design that’s expected to spark inspirations complemented with a better camera system that’ll bring new videography features to users. Zhujie further noted the Nova 9 is packaged in an all-new colour way – Colour No. 9, including its flagship feature of a massive 50MP camera setup.

Other features include an impressive 6.57-inch 120Hz Original-Colour Curved Display with a tapered surface that flows like a waterfall, minimising the left and right bezels for more immersive viewing. Huawei says the panel can display 1.07 billion colours. The rear camera setup consists of a 50MP ultra vision camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a macro camera and a depth camera. There’s also a large 1/1.56-inch sensor with high light sensitivity capable of collecting 40 percent more light compared to a standard RGGB sensor.

The front sensor is maxed-out at 32MP which can record 4K selfie videos, though falls short of recently announced Vivo V23 which boasts of a massive 50MP selfie. Powering the HUAWEI nova 9 is a high capacity 4300mAh battery which can support 66W fast charging.

Other goodies packaged with Nova 9 include;

  • HUAWEI Music 3 months free VIP subscription
  • HUAWEI Video 1 month free VIP subscription
  • HUAWEI Mobile Cloud 200GB 1 month free storage or 200 GB 30% off on 1 year subscription.

 

Vivo V23 5G Officially Unveiled in Kenya, Packs a 50MP Selfie Camera

When it comes to choosing your next smartphone, it can be quite a tasking activity especially if you don’t have clear set out key features that you would love to get in  your next pocket companion. Vivo has announced V23 that doesn’t seem to shy away from standing out in what has become a very crowded segment. It features 5G as well as a one of a kind 50MP selfie camera. On paper, the Vivo V23 seems to check every box that a power user might have on their list, but this doesn’t mean it is immune to flaws or undercut corners.

The V23 5G smartphone clearly claims its spot amongst 5G enabled smart devices here in Kenya, it’s also one of those devices that goes above and beyond to make a statement on selfie photography. It should be noted that 5G enabled smartphones are still too damn expensive here in Kenya despite the technology having been available for more than a year now. Currently it’s only Safaricom that can support 5G network in the country, at least in major towns.

Under the hood, Vivo V23 5G also packs what would easily be considered as one of the best selfie camera combos. It breaks ranks to feature a 50MP sensor as well as an 8MP super-wide angle shooter. We can only imagine how selfies would look like on this device given the large sensor at this moment, But as we all know it’s just more than the numbers that make photos pop, the underlying software must work hand in hand to expect anything world class.

Vivo has also clerverly tweaked the build material to produce an interesting color changing exterior that changes two different colors under direct sunlight, nothing really eye popping but there are those who will find it intriguing.

speaking at the launch event, Vivo Kenya brand and communications manager James Irungu pointed out the company was striving to provide an ultimate mobile experience by combining innovation and cutting-edge capabilities for people who need to express their individuality. He noted the V23 with its large selfie sensor, was aimed to appease consumers looking for a lightweight handset featuring an elegant design that is fashionable yet diverse.

50MP sensor basically means that users will now be able to shoot 4K selfie videos right on their mobile phones. Other features include; a triple rear camera setup consisting of 2MP 64MP and 8MP sensors. It packs a MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor, a 90Hz refresh rate display, extended RAM 2.0, a Liquid Cooling System and Ultra Game Mode for optimal gameplay. he new V23 5G also features a 44W FlashCharge capability that can power up the super-slim 4200mAh(TYP) battery quickly and efficiently.

Price in Kenya

The V23 5G will be available in Kenya going at a retail price of Ksh. 59,999

The Most Watched Movies and TV Series on Netflix in Kenya 2021

2021 was another year where a lot of us spent most of our time at home. Working and entertaining oneself from the comfort of our own houses has become the norm and as such Netflix viewership continued to skyrocket.

Netflix in Kenya saw a host of new movies enter the platform. From the Oscar-winning Italian masterpiece Roma to another classic Martin Scorsese mob film The Irishman viewers were spoilt for choice.

Choosing what to watch on Netflix is often an extremely difficult task just because of the sheer volume of content on the platform. There were however a handful of movies and television series that just everyone around the country had to watch.

Let’s take a look at the most-watched titles in Kenya in 2021

Squid Game (2021)

Written by Korean mastermind Hwang Dong-Hyuk Squid Game was a worldwide phenomenon on Netflix with over 142 million viewers worldwide. The view count in Kenya was well into the 200 000’s and as such was one of the most popular titles of the year.

Netflix has decided to capitalise on the show’s enormous popularity and has already given the green light for season 2 to air when it has been created.

The Squid Game universe is just starting to be sure to stay tuned in for its next installment.

Parasite (2019)

Continuing with the theme of Korean entertainment Parasite was another global hit in terms of worldwide popularity and viewership. It came to Netflix in Kenya in 2021 and many viewers simply needed to see what the hype was about.

Parasite was the first foreign film to win the Oscar for best picture in 2019 and rightly so as director Bong Joon-Ho paints a dark comedic picture of class struggles in Korea.

The message of the movie was applicable worldwide and nonetheless so in Kenya, where the movie was one of the most-watched on Netflix in 2021.

Army of Thieves (2019)

If there is one thing that every film enjoyer loves to watch once in a while it’s a good zombie movie, and that’s exactly what Army of Thieves provides. Although Army of Thieves has an interesting story and cannot purely be described as a zombie movie.

A prequel to Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead this movie follows a mysterious main character recruit a heist crew to break into some of the hardest to unlock safes across Europe. How does this tie into the zombie theme? You’ll just have to find out for yourself – it’s part of the mystery!

This movie came to Kenya in 2021 and occupied the number one spot for the most-watched movie for the whole of the 44th week of the year. It was as popular as play live casino is every week of the year.

Now that we’ve looked at some of the titles that viewers in Kenya just couldn’t resist, let’s look at what’s coming to Netflix in Kenya in 2022. Some of the most exciting shows confirmed include Agent King, Archive 81, and Assassins Creed.