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MPESA services earned Safaricom more than traditional voice segment

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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MPESA services earned Safaricom more than traditional voice segment

It’s hard to imagine a company earning lots of income from a service that’s supposed to be secondary from what its actually intended to offer, and Safaricom’s MPESA has just done that. Anyone would expect a mobile service provider to get more revenue from traditional services like voice and data, but this is apparently not the case with Safaricom after it recorded more revenue from MPESA in the previous financial year than it did from voice segments.  

But the news isn’t entirely surprising, MPESA has been doing tremendously well in the past few years with many adoptions on various platforms including international e-commerce websites such as AliExpress. MPESA has become the largest revenue earner for Safaricom, gaining momentum since its inception back in 2007.

MPESA has had its fair share of covid-crunch, especially after the Kenyan government directed the provider to offer free MPESA transactions as a way of encouraging the use of paperless transactions to curb the spread of covid. Revenue from the mobile money service declined by 2.1 percent to KES 82.64 billion, slightly overtaking revenue from voice that stood at KES 82.55 billion.

The overall profit from the company stood at KES 68.6 billion, reflecting a slight drop of 6.8 percent compared to a similar period a year earlier. And as a result, shareholders will be parting with a dividend payout of KES 0.9 per share, resulting to a KES 1.37 per share. As expected, that would make a drop from KES 1.4 paid out for the previous year.

Speaking on the latest financial figures, Safaricom’s Chief Executive Mr. Ndegwa said the MPESA business was expected to continue growing, owing to lots of opportunities in the segment.

Netflix customers in Kenya to pay more for the service after inclusion of digital service tax

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Netflix customers in Kenya to pay more for the service after inclusion of digital service tax

Kenyans who are utilizing the popular video on demand service – Netflix will now pay more for their monthly subscriptions after the entertainment company included value added tax. The new charges will affect subscribers currently on the standard plan as well as on the premium plan which in the past have only been KES 950 and KES 1,200 consecutively.

The review follows introduction of digital service tax by the Kenyan government in a move intended to rake in more revenue from online service providers who are not necessarily stationed in the country. New rates for the standard and premium packages will now be KES 1,100 and KES 1,450 consecutively. For those on the lower-tier plan will however remain un-affected from the latest plans.

A message obtained from the company to one of Kenyan-based subscriber indicated the company will impose new rates starting at the end of May. Other companies have either withdrawn their services from the country such as website hosting and domain registration firm – Siteground. Kenyans trying to sign-up new accounts on Siteground were met with a rude shock, when the company indicated it was no longer taking up new customers from the country.  

Digital Service Tax was implemented on January 1st, 2021, the law behind this tax notes that any person who earns income from Kenya shall be required to pay digital service tax. The legislation states that all businesses selling services online are required to pay a flat tax of 1.5 percent on the value of goods supplied and sold online or services offered through digital platforms.

Vivo smartphone and online retailer – Jambo Shoppe ink a deal to sell devices via its platform

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Vivo smartphone and online retailer – Jambo Shoppe ink a deal to sell devices via its platform

Vivo smartphone has inked a deal that will see its devices become available on the Jambo Shoppe online retail shop. The two companies are looking to tap into an increasing online focused Kenyan market that has been gaining popularity in recent times. Vivo has unveiled several devices in the local market including Vivo Y20s, while Jambo Shoppe is aiming to gain a footprint in the market that has been dominated by Jumia for a long time.

The need to have a reliable, secure online shopping platform in Kenya has almost tripled in recent times as more Kenyans now favor online shopping rather than traditional methods to curb the spread of covid-19 virus. A recent study done by Mastercard revealed an impressive trend of the number of Kenyans now opting to shop online, especially after the pandemic happened.

According to Vivo, the partnership is expected to boost visibility of its products to potential customers in the country, availing credible alternative methods to purchase quality devices from the manufacturer at affordable rates. Competition in the smartphone sector has become so brutal that without an appealing combination of price and features, these devices would otherwise never see the light of day.

Speaking on the partnership, Vivo Smartphone Kenya Brand and Communications Manager Mr. James Irungu said the smartphone market in the country has a favorable competition landscape with more consumers considering online purchases. Irungu further said the deal will enable consumers in the country to access a wide range of phones at affordable prices.

On the other hand, Jambo Shoppe recently unveiled a mobile app for its iOS and android customers, hopping to tap into rising numbers of online shoppers. And from data acquired from Statista, people using smartphones worldwide have surpassed three billion and these figures are expected to grow even further.

Speaking on the deal, Jambo Shoppe country head, Sanjay Pathak said the partnership cements the company’s commitment to provide customers with a wide range of products. Sanjay further noted the company’s desire to make it easier for customers to order items conveniently, securely through the introduction of the app.  Vivo smartphones can be bought from the Jambo Shoppe online platform through the following link:  https://www.jamboshop.com/brand/Vivo/1736

Tecno Camon 17 officially unveiled in Kenya, packs a 5000mAh battery and 90Hz display

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Tecno Camon 17 officially unveiled in Kenya, packs a 5000mAh battery and 90Hz display

After several leaks from various sources surfaced sometimes back regarding the Tecno Camon 17, the company has finally unveiled the device here in Kenya. The Camon 17 was spotted on FCC as well as on Google Play console, giving fans an early look on how the next iteration on the Camon lineup would look like before going official. Tecno has had a good run so far here in Kenya, leading in sales due to an impressive combination of price and features.

And while there may be a reason for fans to get excited, there isn’t much on the device that we haven’t seen elsewhere, the choice will still double down to a couple of factors including price – an area that the company is doing well so far and features. A number of improvements have been effected to appeal to consumers including a higher refresh rate screen and a large battery capacity.  

Large-screen lovers will find solace on this device as it includes a large 6.6-inch display panel, but the resolution remains within the lower-end genre which might not please many such as myself. Considering the size of the panel, we did expect at least Tecno to go beyond a FHD panel, but at the same time, their decision might have been influenced by a lower price tag. On the brighter side, at least the 90Hz panel will make everything to look snappy and pleasant to use.

The design is rather traditional with a choice of three colors, including Deep Sea, Frost Silver and Tranquil Green. And as expected, you will not find metal or glass on the backside as that would have shot the price beyond reach for many. It is housed in a plastic casing with a TECNO CAMON branding at the back as well as the fingerprint sensor. The camera setup includes three vertically arranged sensors that include a 48MP primary sensor, QVGA sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front side is a 16MP selfie camera that is housed in punch hole.

Under the hood is a MediaTek Helio G85, that is complemented with a choice of either 4GB or 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage that can be further expanded with an external MicroSD card. We still don’t get the 5G goodness but expect a reliable 4G connection or dual-band WiFi. There are several sensors embedded such as ambient light sensor, accelerometer, and proximity sensor. The handset will be available in Kenya from KES 22,799.

Equity bank makes a milestone in digital platforms with over 60 percent of total transactions

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Equity bank makes a milestone in digital platforms with over 60 percent of total transactions

Kenya’s Equity bank has struck yet another milestone with over 60 percent of its transactions value recorded outside traditional branches. According to data released by the financial institution, branches only accounted for 37.4 percent of total transactions, a development that has never occurred before. The move shows a consistent trend in adoption of digital payments which has been the case here in Kenya for the longest period, especially after Safaricom’s MPESA became the default payment system.

Data released by the bank as it announced its 2020 full year financial results indicate that more than 98 percent of transactions happened outside the banks premises, with an estimated 85 percent of all transactions recorded on mobile devices through the self-service mobile banking facility.

Agency and merchant banking modes were only able to cater for about 12 percent of those transactions. Kenya and the world over have witnessed increased adoption for digital payment systems especially with the current pandemic. According to data from the institution, Pay with Equity solutions grew by 31 percent, while its value grew to KS 2 trillion, accounting for 58 percent increase from a previous KS. 1.3 trillion.

Borrowers also preferred mobile based channels, accounting for 97 percent of loan request during the same period. The data outline how customers preferred accessing loan facility through mobile devices using platforms such as Eazzy App, Equitel, Eazzy Net and *247#.

With channels such as USSD code *247#, customers can access loan facilities like Eazzyloan up to KS 250,000. The repayment period is usually within a month with the possibility to take up to 3 loans at the same time.

Telkom Kenya and Government sign a pact to develop youth focused digital wallet dubbed Fursa

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Telkom Kenya and Government sign a pact to develop youth focused digital wallet dubbed Fursa

Kenya’s third largest mobile service provider – Telkom Kenya has inked a deal with the ministry of ICT to develop a youth focused digital wallet that aims to protect them from financial exclusion, especially during the pandemic period. The new service is dubbed as “Fursa”, meaning opportunity in the Swahili language, and will be co-created by Telkom Kenya and the National Youth Council of Kenya (NYCK).

According to the telco, Fursa is expected to offer youth’s a way to access various financial services and products despite physical and infrastructural barriers. Fursa will allow for speedy, secure, and timely disbursement of funds to the youth. According to statistics from the Financial Sector Deepening, close to 23 percent of youths aged between 18-25 years are excluded from mainstream financial services.

The product will be developed to achieve additional functionalities such as a membership management system, financial reconciliation features, savings and investments, experience board for job matching and e-learning as well as experiential skill development.

Speaking on the initiative, Telkom Kenya’s Chief Executive Officer Mugo Kibati said the partnership was first of several Digital Financial Services the company is exploring that have the potential to accelerate the economy into a cash-lite status.

Kibati further noted there was room to increase the financial inclusion of Kenyan youths through digitization and investment in the mobile money ecosystem. He concluded by adding that these efforts would eventually eliminate the problem which had been exacerbated during the pandemic period. On the NYCK’s part, the Chief Executive Roy Sasaka TELEWA said the service will expand a portfolio of financial opportunities to Kenyan youths at the grassroots level. Roy further noted the importance of a strong financial services footprint which will help youths in leveraging applications for business opportunities.  

Kenyans to walk away with smart wearables in Huawei Mobile’s Let’s Fit Challenge

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Kenyans to walk away with smart wearables in Huawei Mobile’s Let’s Fit Challenge

Tech giant – Huawei has unveiled a two-week campaign that will see lucky Kenyans walk away with Huawei GT2 pro, Huawei GT2 and HUAWEI Watch fit. The promotion is aimed at encouraging Kenyans to get into fitness related activities which will see some of them walk away with various wearable devices. In a campaign dubbed “Let’s Fit Challenge”, any Kenyan with a smartphone can participate and win any of the set prizes within two weeks.

Due to the guidelines put in place in the wake of the corona virus, most Kenyans are now spending more time indoors, which can be a recipe for many fitness related ailments. Employers have even opted for some of their staff to work from home which now makes fitness related activities more important. Let’s Fit Challenge will run from 17th April until 30th April.

According to Huawei, any Kenyan can take part in the challenge by just downloading the company’s health application from the app market and participate in the following fitness activities; run or walk 5000 steps daily for 5 days, which will get them a lottery ticket for the draw to win various gift hampers.

Speaking on the initiative, Huawei Mobile Kenya country head Jim Zhujie said the pandemic’s third wave had forced public fitness places like gyms to close which has become a major challenge to fitness enthusiast. Zhujie further said the company had come up with the campaign to reward Kenyans as they take a fitness journey.

The country head further pointed out the company was seeking to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle on matters fitness through tracking activities using different HUAWEI wearables such as HUAWEI GT2 pro, HUAWEI GT2 and HUAWEI Watch fit which are available across the country. Zhujie also noted the importance to keep track of personal fitness data as is used to develop training plans tailored to everyone.

How to participate in Huawei’s Let’s Fit Challenge and win exciting wearables.

  • Users need to have a smartphone and proceed to download HUAWEI Health App from App Market 
  • Next, Login to HUAWEI Health App with your HUAWEI ID account
  • Click “Join Let’s Fit Together Challenge Page”
  • Then, tap on “Take challenge”
  • Users can choose to run or walk for 5000 steps daily for 5 days accumulated and earn 1 lottery entry per run/walk.
  • Remember to auto-sync your app by going to HUAWEI Health App > Me > settings > enable Auto sync. Also go into privacy settings to enable sync to Cloud.
  • Participants will receive Let’s Fit Together Medal automatically after they complete the challenge.
  • You’ll need to enter your detail information after winning, Physical Prizes will be sent within 15days after your information is confirmed.

Uber, Little Cab and Bolt drivers plan to go on strike if operators fail to increase fares

Tuvuti Editorial Team
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Uber, Little Cab and Bolt drivers plan to go on strike if operators fail to increase fares

Uber, Bolt and Little Cab drivers are planning to switch-off their services if operators fail to increase fares in the wake of high fuel prices. Fuel prices in the country have been skyrocketing with a notable increase in March that emerged as the highest price-tag in nine years. These drivers depend on rates set by operators and are shared between the driver and the operator.

According to the taxi hailing app drivers, low fares have made it impossible to service car loans as well as cutting down their overall take-home amount. They are demanding operators to increase fares and their commissions to mitigate the effects of high fuel prices.

Petrol prices per litre are retailing from Ksh. 107.66 in Nairobi, reflecting a nine-year high. Through their official lobby – E-hailing Transporters Kenya, drivers are now demanding a hike in fares and a reasonable cut in commissions or switch off their phones if the demands are not met in a months’ time.

Speaking on behalf of the lobby, Secretary General Wycliff Alutalala issued a 30-day notice to all the operators, saying they will be forced to switch-off and delete respective apps if their demands are not met.

 Currently, Uber offers its drivers a cut of 25 percent in commission while Bolt and Little Cab shares a 20 and 19 percent cut, respectively. According to the lobby, drivers want operators to take less than 15 percent from their earnings.

Drivers allege that on a Ksh. 1,000 trip, they only take home about Ksh. 250 with Ksh. 250 going to app owners and fuel taking the rest of earnings.

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