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How to use KCB Bank’s VOOMA mobile wallet via USSD and Mobile application

When Kenya’s biggest financial lender – KCB unveiled the Vooma mobile wallet service, most of us weren’t really clear on how the service was going to operate alongside the popular KCB-MPESA option within our MPESA menu; but as it turns out, the service goes further than just letting users borrow money and lock savings. Kenya is one of those countries that use mobile phones in more than just sending text messages or making phone calls, in fact, we kind of carry out money related transactions using our phones more than any other means. Its therefore prudent to witness financial firms explore ways in bringing services on mobile phones.

VOOMA is described by KCB as a mobile wallet service that lets users pay for goods as well as services, borrow loans and at the same time save money using their mobile phones. The service is available from all mobile service providers in the country – Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. To make it even more accessible, customers don’t need to have a KCB bank account to use Vooma mobile wallet.

Requirements to join Kenya Commercial Bank’s VOOMA mobile wallet service

As expected, Kenyans hoping to join in on KCB’s Vooma service are required to have a valid government issued identification documents such as a valid National ID, Passport or alien ID plus a registered mobile number from any of the mobile service providers in the country.

Benefits of using VOOMA mobile wallet

  • Vooma users can sent money to both registered and unregistered Vooma users
  • Use Vooma to pay for utility bills such as Kenya Power tokens, Dstv, Gotv, Zuku and more
  • Buy goods by paying for shopping, dining, fueling and so forth
  • Buy airtime credit for Safaricom, Airtel as well as Telkom Kenya
  • Depositing and withdrawing cash from any KCB branches, KCB ATM’s as well as agents
  • Access a loan facility that’s payable within 1, 7, 14, or 30 days at interests starting from 0.2 percent upwards depending on loan duration
  • Transfer cash to any bank account in the country via PesaLink
  • And lastly, users can set standing orders

How to use Vooma mobile wallet

VOOMA Mobile wallet from KCB can be accessed via a mobile app downloadable from Google Play Store for android users and App Store for iOS users as well as using a USSD code: *844#. To use a mobile app, ensure your mobile phone is running latest OS – for android, version 4 and above, then head over to your respective app store and search for “VOOMA”. Otherwise, you can easily access the service via USSD code by simply typing *844# and following prompts.

How to check your Vooma loan limit

Using USSD;

  • On your mobile phone, dial *844#
  • then select “Loans and Savings
  • Choose “Loans” followed by “Check Loan Limit
  • Enter your Vooma PIN, you should receive a response via a text message

Using App

  • Open your android or iOS app
  • Choose “Loans” your limit should automatically be displayed

Samsung Galaxy A21s starts selling in Kenya; here is what you need to know before buying

One of the most interesting devices within the A-series was definitely the Galaxy A21, the handset came with most of the premium features we could only get on superior siblings to the mid-range tier. And now the Samsung Galaxy A21s was supposed to be a better replacement improving on areas where the earlier A21 lacked but as we’ve found out, that could be far from truth. This is not to say the Galaxy A21s isn’t worth it; it still packs several upgrades over the predecessor and will surely appeal to many Samsung fans.

For our editorial, we are focusing on the Galaxy A21s SM-A217FZKGXFE model which is currently available in Kenya with region’s warranty. The handset comes with Dual SIM capability, a superior 5000mAh battery, a bigger camera sensor, but disappoints in screen tech used over the predecessor. In so many ways, the Galaxy A21s resembles the earlier model released last year, but Samsung apparently decided to upgrade only those areas it deemed important to consumers while somehow watering down others.

In my smartphone analysis, I always prioritize the display panel as this is where we interact with our devices most. For those seeking a decent upgrade coming from the Galaxy A20, there are some really important key points to consider before jumping on to the wagon. To be fair, the A20 still remains a solid handset if you’re not that into photography and doesn’t need a heck-lot of battery capacity. The display panel was definitely watered down coming from a Super AMOLED panel to PLS TFT panel. You’ll definitely miss those vibrant deep colors coming from an AOLED panel.

Besides the display panel, most areas that count received some type of an upgrade over the previous model. We now get a juice packed battery that’s now at par with the competition having 5000mAh battery capacity that should last a day or two under normal load. In addition, Samsung responded to content creators and photography fans with a super bump of camera pixels of the main sensor to 48Megapixels. Instead of the two rear cameras, we now get a Quad camera setup that includes a 48MP main sensor, 8MP ultrawide sensor, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensors.

As earlier mentioned, the display panel is definitely the weakest point on this handset, it doesn’t have the Oomph we expected from Samsung as it uses a normal TFT panel instead of AMOLED and the resolution is somehow inferior with just 720*1600 pixels making up the 6.5inchs. but if that’s not a concern, then Samsung Galaxy A21s is surely a humble upgrade and you’d most probably enjoy using it.

Samsung Galaxy A21s Specifications

SPECIFICATIONDESCRIPTION
SCREEN6.5inch PLS TFT (720*1600) resolution (270) Pixels per Inch
MEMORY4GB RAM, 64GB Internal Storage (MicroSD up to 512GB)
PRIMARY CAMERA SETUP48MP Main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro and 2MP depth
SELFIE CAMERA13Megapixels
NETWORKDual SIM – 4G
SENSORSFingerprint (Rear mounted)
BATTERY5000mAh
COLORSBlack, White, Blue, Red

Samsung Galaxy A21s Price in Kenya: Ksh 22,000

How to enable on-screen keyboard on an LG smart TV running WebOS

Have you ever found yourself in one of those awkward moments after buying a new gadget but just don’t know where to find those small but important settings? Well, I have. To be honest, there are a couple of things we ought to find out from the user manuals but most of us never get to read those small handbooks included in almost all electronic gadgets. This happened to me recently, after having my LG TV for quite some time, for some reason, I decided to use the built-in web browser which turned out to be quite an adventure I wasn’t prepared to take.

It all looked easy at first, I mean I had a smart TV at my pleasure and judging from LG’s WebOS reputation, everything I needed to do that could be done on a smart TV was possible. At least that’s what I thought until I needed to key in the web browser the address to view. There was literally no keyboard for me to tap the letters of the address I wanted to surf, so as anyone could’ve assumed, I decided to download LG’s ThinkQ remote on my phone but that turned out abysmal.

I couldn’t figure out how LG intended for someone to use the WebOS built in browser without a functional on-screen keyboard, although there was an option to connect a wireless keyboard but wasn’t ready to churn out cash just so I could buy a keyboard that probably wouldn’t need thereafter. After finding no solution from the LG TV app, I resorted to Google my way out, but didn’t really find a viable solution.

However, after doing several rounds here and there within the LG TV settings, I found a small toggle hidden within that comes disabled by default. And now here is how you enable the on-screen keyboard on an LG smart TV running WebOS.

Steps on how to enable on-screen keyboard on an LG smart TV running WebOS

  • First, open the built-in web browser and tap on the address bar
  • If the on-screen keyboard is enabled, you should see it, if not proceed with below steps
  • Next on the browser address bar, tap on the “menu” icon
  • And select “settings” from the options
  • Next look for “Pop-up Blocker”, in my case the toggle came enabled by default
  • Ensure the “Pop-up blocker” option is DISABLED, and that’s it.

Safaricom moves MPESA Till number applications online; here is how to apply

Merchants seeking to have MPESA Till numbers for their businesses or individuals looking for a faster means to accept payments or contributions can now apply for the same online without having to visit Safaricom offices. The process has been simplified coming from one that required customers to fill out downloadable forms and present the same to Safaricom offices.

This comes as a boost to many Kenyans especially those in remote areas of the country and complements the Governments directive for social distancing in the wake of the corona virus. The requirements however remain the same and businesses seeking for an MPESA Till will have to provide prerequisite documents with individuals required to upload both the front and back of their national identification cards (ID).

The MPESA for businesses portal from which customers can apply for the Till number, also provides updates on current applications and will come in handy to many Kenyan’s who were skeptic to commute during this time. The Lipa na Mpesa portal will further allow Safaricom representatives to receive applications without having contact with applicants which is a plus in the fight against covid-19.

Recently, Safaricom had to temporarily close some of its shops after staff tested positive for the corona virus, the move to an online system will therefore mitigate safety measures the company has employed to deter the spread of the novel virus.

How to apply for an MPESA TILL online

According to Safaricom, the Lipa Na M-PESA application portal enables businesses and individuals to apply for M-PESA solutions to collect and disburse funds. The portal provides easy step-by step process to apply and track applications.

How to file a case online in Kenya through the Judiciary E-Filing System

So much has changed following the effects of the corona virus that has forced most organizations to prioritize staff working from home; we’ve actually seen various sectors of our economy including government agencies we never thought as progressive explore technology to allow for remote working and access to some services. Well the Judiciary hasn’t been spared either. Starting from 1, June 2020, Kenyans will exclusively file for court cases online following a directive from the Chief Justice limiting access to court premises.  

In a notice posted on twitter on 16th June 2020, the judiciary notified the public of its intention to move the process of filing for a court case to its online judiciary e-filing system. This is however expected to affect Nairobi county first before it Is rolled out to other counties. The notice pertains to members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), office of the director of public prosecutions, the police as well as individual members of the public who will be required to register through the judiciary e-filing system and consequently have access to the portal where they’ll be able to upload documents, assess court fees and submit files to the registry online.

How to file a case through the judiciary e-filing system

  • First, you’ll need to register through the judiciary e-filing system here: https://efiling.court.go.ke/ if you haven’t registered yet, otherwise proceed to login and skip the next two steps
  • Choose “Sign up” on the portal and proceed to provide needed information
  • Ensure you provide correct contact details
  • On successful registration, you can then proceed to login and access the portal to file a new court case.
  • After you’ve accessed the portal, hit on “file new case”
  • Then carefully input details of the parties and then “click next”
  • You’ll need to have the documents well scanned separately and labeled appropriately
  • Then select the document to be uploaded from the drop -down menu and attach the respective document from your computer
  • Complete by uploading the document into the judiciary e-filing system

After the system has assessed the provided documents, you’ll be shown the total amount to be paid as court fees with a unique account number indicated on the invoice (starting with letter “E”).

How to pay for amount indicated by judicray e-filing system via MPESA

  • On your mobile phone, head over to MPESA menu and choose “Lipa na Mpesa
  • Next select “Paybill” and enter MPESA Paybill number (553388)
  • Under “Account” details, enter the Unique Account Number indicated on the Invoice (Starting with letter “E”)
  • You should receive a confirmation message from KCB and the system will auto generate a case number
  • Note down the generated case number on your documents.
  • Finally, Print the Electronic Receipt and keep it for future court visit to enable the cashier give you an official receipt and subsequent stamping of your documents.

The judiciary is also set to further embrace technology and unveil additional initiatives including a court recording and transcription system to be availed in 32 court rooms initially before rolling out to others.

KCAA Significantly drops importation charges for drones in new proposals

Importing a drone in Kenya has been quite a hassle due to lack of proper regulations governing the unmanned Aerial vehicles, but this is about to change after the authority unveiled proposals that would allow Kenyans to import them under certain guidelines. The authority had earlier on received a setback following rejection of its earlier proposals by the parliament which had initially proposed an import permit of USD.200 equivalent to about Ksh20,000. KCCA has now revised charges to USD.30 (Ksh3,000) instead.

This comes as a major drop from earlier proposals and if approved, will see more Kenyans import drones knowing the charges wouldn’t be as high. The move follows current views being submitted by stakeholders on proposed charges especially after the parliament approved and consequently gazettement of regulations as the country moves closer to adopting the drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has so far started accepting applications for those who want permits and registration of the drone and according to the Director General Gilbert Kibe, the exercise will be based on drone category to avoid congestion in the skies. Kibe further said the authority was in the final stages and had called on interested parties to apply for the permits.

Categories that Kenyan’s can apply for the gadget include recreation, filming, media and photography and after the public had finalized issuing their views on charges, the proposals will then be adopted and forwarded to the Transport secretary for approval.

According to some preliminary views, stakeholders seem to be satisfied with the proposed charges as they are much more affordable than the earlier ones. Unlike earlier proposals, KCAA has not issued different fees for different categories. From earlier proposals, drones falling in commercial recreational purposes would have attracted lower charges than those meant for commercial use.

Kenya’s parliament had annulled the Kenya Civil Aviation (Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems Regulations, 2017) after finding fault with several provisions. According to the committee in charge of the legislation, there was minimal public participation while coming up with those regulations and most of the proposals had fallen short of addressing issues with regards to safety, security, and breached personal privacy by drones in civilian hands under the Bill of Rights.

Before the gazettement of these regulations, importing a drone in the country had remained illegal with exception to the military, prompting confiscation of hundreds of drones at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as they were being imported at the time when there is no legal framework on drones in the country. However, KCAA said it would be releasing them to the owners once everything has been finalized.

AAR Unveils home delivery of medicines; here is how to get your medication delivered

The current pandemic has affected several aspects of our daily activities including social distancing as well as commuting, but the often left out group of diversely affected Kenyans is persons in need of medical care. It’s now riskier to visit a health facility than just staying at home for persons without dire medical conditions and its from this narrative that we continue seeing several healthcare facilities continue to explore e-health in offering services.

AAR which is associated with medical insurance services as well as outpatients’ activities has inked a deal with e-health service providers MyDawa and CheckUps to deliver medication to clients at home instead of having them commute to pharmacies in an effort to reduce the risk of contracting covid-19. The delivery service dubbed – “Health at your doorstep” is set to eliminate the need for customers to visit hospitals as well as pharmacies just so they can get their medication and this is more important for patients that need constant supply of medication such as those with chronic illness.

e-health has become more popular with social distancing directives where we’ve seen several organizations such as those in the telecommunications industry like Telkom Kenya engage health facilities to limit movements amongst Kenyans by offering consultation services via mobile phones or other technological means.

Earlier on, we witnessed firms such as Valentis health engage Telkom Kenya to offer telemedicine services to members at subsidized rates and Minet partner with SASADoctor to offer video medical consultation services. Thanks to covid-19, this is the new world we now live in, several organizations have been forced to explore technology in offering services without having customers commute to physical locations such as offices or in this case medical facilities.

AAR which boasts of more than 200,000 customers across the country, will let them order medication right on their mobile phones and get the same delivered at their doorsteps rather than having to commute and probably spend a lot of time at health facilities.

According to AAR’s managing director Nixon Shigoli, the company understood the need of its customers to stay away from covid-19 risks which included staying indoors and working from home. Shigoli said the firm wanted to make it easier for customers to comply with current guidelines especially those with chronic conditions who may be at a higher risk of contracting the novel corona virus by utilizing apps to get their medication effectively limiting trips to health facilities.

How AAR customers can order for medication and get it delivered on their doorsteps from their mobile phones

  • The service can be accessed through WhatsApp chat by first saving WhatsAPP number 0703665191
  • And sending photos of original prescription and claim form to CheckUps via the WhatsApp number
  • Or log in to MyDawa website or app, upload the original prescription and then follow the prompts.

By forging partnerships with MyDawa and CheckUps, AAR Insurance Kenya is effectively exploring digital transformation strategy anchored on delivering value to customers. MyDawa was launched back in 2017 as an e-health platform that’s owned by ION Kenya which enables patients to order a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs online.

CheckUps, an online medical tele-consultation service offered by Nairobi-based CheckUps Medical Center, also offers home delivery for prescription medicine.

e-Health has become a viable solution to promoting better healthcare delivery in Kenya. WHO identifies e-Health as the combined use of electronic communication and information technology in the health sector.

OPPO A52 Specifications and what you need to know before buying

Shopping for a smartphone shouldn’t be a tedious experience, but with a flooded market, the decision can be just as hard as having the cash to buy it. But for techie consumers who have set minimum must haves, the choice can as well be limited to just a few that offers a combination of both prerequisite specifications as well as a price range that’s within reach. The new OPPO A52 packs specs that most of us would consider OK, but with recent entrants in the mid-range tier, consumers can stretch further and still get a deal out of their hard-earned cash.

Speaking of hard-earned cash, OPPO A52 is currently retailing in Kenya for a round Ksh24,000 which pits it against more than a dozen of worthy alternatives such as the Huawei Y8p going for the same amount. But the decision as to what is good or what bis bad definitely rests within you – the consumer; while some (me included) may consider a decent screen as the definite decider, others would try to balance between performance, battery life and camera experience as their ultimate preferences.

OPPO A52 packs a 6.5inch 1080P Neo-Display that should produce crisp text and vivid images with finer pixel density. I always prefer panels with dense pixels and my bare minimum is a 1080p, otherwise my sweet spot remains to be 1440p. Instead of using a notch to house the selfie camera, OPPO opted for a more advanced option – punch hole design instead. This allows the display panel to stretch from corner to corner with minimal bezels that takes about 20 percent of the panel leaving a whopping 83 percent real estate for your viewing.

Something to point out, there’s definitely something about this phones design, it just stands out from some of its peers with what the company calls a 3D Quad-curve Design. instead of placing a fingerprint sensor at the back, the company chose to side mount it within the power button which is somehow intended so you won’t miss it even in darkness. The implementation here is obviously better than let’s say having a separate button for power and fingerprint but we like under-display sensors more, they’re just fun to use and feels more premium.

As has been the trend with mi-level handsets, OPPO A52 comes with a quad rear camera setup that’s poised to capture every bit of moment regardless of the environment. However, users won’t find a bigger 48MP sensor on this device as we’ve seen on others, but it should perform just fine for simple snaps. On the front panel, there’s a 16MP selfie camera equipped with AI Beautification developed by OPPO, which is touted to match different skin tones in different scenes and lighting conditions.

Under the hood is a 5000mAh battery, one aspect we’ve come to expect from most devices coming out this year. Under normal usage, the phone should last a full day and even overlap to the next day. while there are different variants of this model, unfortunately we get one that has 4GB RAM instead of 6GB, but this should only concern those who are looking for a gaming device – I’ve detailed some of the best options you could go for but at a premium price.

OPPO A52 Specifications

SPECSDESCRIPTION
SCREEN6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels
OSAndroid v10, ColorOS 7.1
STORAGE128GB Internal 4GB RAM
PROCESSORQualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)
REAR CAMERA12 MP,8MP – Ultrawide, 2MP- macro and 2MP-depth
SELFIE CAMERA16 MP
SENSORSFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
BATTERY 5000 mAh battery, 18W fast charging
COLORSTwilight Black, Stream White