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Techno Spark 6 Go Price in Kenya and Full Specifications

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Tecno Spark 6 Go has finally been launched in the Kenyan Market after being announced last year.

This phone becomes the latest budget phone to be launched in the Kenyan market. Other phones that have already been launched include the Techno Pova, Techno Spark 5 Pro, Techno Camon 16s, and the Techno Pouvour 4. All these budget phones were launched last year.

Techno Spark 6 Go Price in Kenya and Specifications  

The Techno Spark 6 Go comes with a 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The internal memory can be expanded using an external microSD card. The processor is an Helio A20.

The display is capped at 6.52” inch 720p display that comes with a waterdrop notch at the top.

In terms of cameras, the main camera comes with a dual set-up featuring the 13MP primary sensor and a depth sensor. The selfie camera is an 8MP housed in the display at the top.

TECNO Spark 6 Go supports 4G VoLTE and is powered by Android 10(Go Edition) from Google. Also available is the HiOS user interface.

Moreover, these are the applications pre-installed on the phone, YouTube Go, Gboard (lightweight version for Go), Gallery Go, Google Go, Chrome, Maps Go, Google Play Store, Assistant Go, and Gmail Go.

All this is powered with a 5000mAh in built battery.

So what will the phone cost? The phone goes for Ksh. 11, 499.00 at all Techno Shops and Safaricom shops countrywide. For this price, you get to choose from Ice Jadeite and Aqua Blue colours.

Samsung S21 Series Price in Kenya and Specifications

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The Samsung S21 Series phones are already available for pre-order in Kenya.

In case you missed this, the S21 series has three devices. we have the S21, the S21Plus, and the S21 ultra.

The S21 series is the newest series from Samsung and will set you back for between Ksh.100000.00 and Ksh. 150000.00

Here below are the Samsung S21 series price in Kenya and full specifications

Samsung S21 Series Price In Kenya and Full Specifications

SpecsS21S21 PlusS21 Ultra
BodyPlastic back
GG Victus front
GG Victus front and backGG Victus front and back
Weight171g202g229g
ScreenFlat
6.2″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED
2400 x 1080 pixels
120 Hz
Flat
6.7″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED
2400 x 1080 pixels
120 Hz
Curved
6.8″ QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED
3200 x 1440 pixels
120 Hz
ChipExynos 2100Exynos 2100Exynos 2100
RAM8 GB8 GB12/16 GB
Internal128/256 GB
No SD card support
128/256 GB
No SD card support
128/256/512 GB
No SD card support
Fingerprint readerUltrasonic In-Display readerUltrasonic In-Display readerUltrasonic In-Display reader
Main CameraTriple
12 MP wide angle with OIS
12 MP ultra-wide
64 MP telephoto with OIS
Triple
12 MP wide angle with OIS
12 MP ultra-wide
64 MP telephoto with OIS
Quad
108 MP wide-angle with OIS
12 MP ultra-wide
10 MP telephot, OIS, 3X optical zoom
10 MP telephoto, OIS, 10x optical zoom
Selfie10 MP10 MP40 MP
Radios5G
Bluetooth 5.2
Wi-Fi 6
5G
Bluetooth 5.2
Wi-Fi 6
5G
Bluetooth 5.2
Wi-Fi 6
Headphone socketNoNoNo
AudioStereo with dual-speakersStereo with dual-speakersStereo with dual-speakers
AudioStereo with dual-speakersStereo with dual-speakersStereo with dual-speakers
IP certificationIP68IP68IP68
SoftwareAndroid 11
OneUI 3.1
Android 11
OneUI 3.1
Android 11
OneUI 3.1
ColoursPhantom Violet
Phantom Gray
Phantom White
Phantom Pink
Phantom Violet
Phantom Gray
Phantom White
Phantom Gray
Phantom White
Price128 GB version – KES 100,000
256 GB version – KES 106,000
KES 125000256 GB version – KES 154,000
512 GB version – KES 170,000

In other news, all Samsung phones will not ship with a charger and earphones in the future.

This comes after Apple announced that the iPhone 12 series, which is made of four devices, this time around with the smallest of the bunch, the iPhone 12 Mini with not ship with the same accessories. This announcement was made in September last year.

Now Samsung has followed the same route with future phones. It is not known how the market will respond to this news.

Kenya’s Public Debt: Kenya Bows too Pressure To Add Sh. 3.4 Trillion Loans on Sh. 7 Trillion National Debt

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Kenya’s public dept. Kenya has today bowed to International Monetary Fund (IMF) pressure to include Sh. 3.4 trillion parastatal and county loans as part of the country’s national debt.

The country had been drowning in debt since this government came into power with Kenyans concerned that the debt problem could make their recovery from the effects of COVID-19 difficult.

Most of the debt is from loans the country took from took from China to build the Standard Gauge railway and other major projects across the country including loans.

According to an article in the local dailies and seen by ShopaXo, the National treasury has announced inclusion of parastatal loans will be done in phases and will start with foreign currency debts.  

According to the report, this will be a departure from the current state of loans where the Jubilee government only recognizes guaranteed debts.

The report adds, “IMF wants it to include all loans of State linked firms, a move that will push the country’s Sh. 7 trillion debt up by Sh. 3.4 trillion and crash through the Sh. 9 trillion debt limit.”

This development comes at a time the National treasury is seeking to borrow more by lobbying the National assembly to increase the debt ceiling to Ksh.12 trillion. This will enable the government to borrow even more.

Already leaders such as the ANC leader have been vocal about the borrowing, arguing that the government’s appetite for borrowing is worrying.

Records show that the current administration has borrowed more than the three previous regime combined.

In a report title Kenya’s Selected Specific Fiscal Risks, this is what IMF had to say, “The authorities noted the importance of expanding debt coverage to include counties, non-guaranteed debt contracted by the extra budgetary units, and State owned Enterprises (SOEs). They planned to take a gradual approach to monitoring contingent liabilities, for example, to start to monitor external borrowing by large SOEs.’’

The local daily notes, “Public companies, most of which are loss making have a liability of Sh. 1.494 trillion, PPP’s (Sh. 679 billion), Kenya Depositors Insurance Corporation (Sh. 261 billion), legal claims (Sh. 23 billion) and pensions (Sh. 819 billion).”

According to IMF, Kenya’s public debt continues to rise, with the government guaranteeing Sh. 139 billion that includes some Sh. 75 billion to the national carrier, Kenya Airways.

Vivo V20 Price in Kenya and Full specifications

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The Vivo V20 is now available in Kenya; here is the Vivo V20 price in Kenya and full specifications. But first, here are some specifications.

Vivo on 5th January 2021, unveiled its latest device that they are calling the V20. The phone, according to the company, has innovative selfie capabilities that allow users to take the best selfies with cutting-edge technology, trendy design, and all-around performance.

For starters, the device uses an advanced AI algorithm to track and focus on moving objects. This sharpens the photo and video quality for mobile subject tracking.

The camera has the capability of shooting 4K selfie videos, and according to the company, this can be done in slow motion. That is not all; the camera is a powerful 44MP.

The main camera has a triple set-up that is a 64MP-8MP-2MP camera featuring Super Night Mode on the main lens, which supports tripod shooting, wide-angle night scenes, and a stylish night filter, enabling users to capture stunning photos in low-light environments.

In addition, the device features a dual-view video that allows users to combine footage captured by from and rear cameras.

The design is such that the phone comes with a 6.44- inch super AMOLED Display, a perfect size spot, that is complemented by an ultra-sleek and light design.

The Vivo V20 measures only 7.38mm wide and comes at a mass of 170g. This all comes with glass adding a soft and delicate touch, as well as Dual Tone Step, V20 complements the styles of trendy young consumers.

The phone comes with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 720 G processor with an 8GB RAM + 256 GB ROM, delivering smooth performance for applications and games, powers V20. 

In terms of juicing, the phone is powered by a 4,000mAh (TYP) battery with Vivo’s 33W Flash Charge technology which brings solid durability and fast charging time. This provides users with all the time with the phone without the worry of recharging.

Lastly, for colors, you get Midnight jazz and the Sunset melody countrywide.     

The Vivo v20 price in Kenya is 45999.00

Vivo V20 is Ideal for Young Consumers

Speaking during the launch, vivo Kenya Brand Manager Mr. James Irungu said, “Vivo always innovates with the consumer in mind. Guided by our deep insights into consumer needs, we developed the V20 to provide leading camera technology packed in a sleek, but affordable device.”

He added that, “The V20 is ideal for young consumers who like to take regular photos and record life’s shiny moments, while the trendy design makes it a perfect accessory for their lifestyles.”

Vivo V20 Price In Kenya and Full Specifications

Summary

PerformanceSnapdragon 765
Storage128 GB
Camera64+8+5+2 MP
Battery4500 mAh
Display6.57″ (16.69 cm)
RAM8 GB
Launch Date in KenyaJanuary 5, 2022 (Unofficial)
vivo v20 Price in Kenya45999

Key specs

Front camera32 MP + 8 MP
Battery4500 mAh
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 765
Display6.57 inches
RAM8 GB
Rear camera64 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP

Special features

Other sensorsLight sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope
Fingerprint sensor positionOn-screen
Fingerprint sensorYes

General

Quick chargingYes
Operating systemAndroid v10 (Q)
SIM slotsDual SIM, GSM+GSM
ModelV20
Launch dateJanuary 5, 2021 (Official)
Custom uiFuntouch OS
BrandVivo
SIM sizeSIM1: Nano SIM2: Nano (Hybrid)
Network4G: Available (supports Kenyan bands), 3G: Available, 2G: Available
Fingerprint sensorYes

Multimedia

Audio jack3.5 mm
LoudspeakerYes

Performance

ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 765
GraphicsAdreno 620
ProcessorOcta core (2.3 GHz, Single core, Kryo 475 + 2.2 GHz, Single core, Kryo 475 + 1.8 GHz, Hexa Core, Kryo 475)
Architecture64 bit
RAM8 GB

Display

Display typeIPS LCD
Bezelless displayYes with punch-hole display
Screen size6.57 inches (16.69 cm)
Screen resolution1080 x 2400 pixels
Touch screenYes Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch
Pixel density401 ppi

storage

Internal memory128 GB
Expandable memoryYes Up to 256 GB

Camera

Camera setupDual
SettingsExposure compensation, ISO control
Camera featuresDigital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus
Image resolution9000 x 7000 Pixels
Main cameraYes 64 MP, Auto focus
AutofocusYes Phase Detection auto focus
Shooting modesContinuous Shooting, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR)
Resolution32 MP Primary Camera 8 MP, Wide Angle, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera
FlashYes LED Flash

Battery

user replaceableNo
typeLi-ion
quick chargingYes Fast
usb typecYes
capacity4500 mAh

Network connectivity

WIFIYes Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n
WIFI featuresMobile Hotspot
BluetoothYes v5.0
VolteYes
USB connectivityMass storage device, USB charging
Network support4G (supports Kenyan bands), 3G, 2G
GPSYes with A-GPS, Glonass
sim 14G Bands:TD-LTE 2300(band 40) FD-LTE 1800(band 3)3G Bands: UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz2G Bands: GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz GPRS:Available EDGE:Available
sim sizeSIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano (Hybrid)
sim 24G Bands: TD-LTE 2300(band 40) FD-LTE 1800(band 3)3G Bands: UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz 2G Bands: GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz GPRS:Available EDGE:Available

CRB Listing Begins Today As 90-Day Notice Lapses

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The freeze of CRB listing is finally over. From Monday 4th January 2021, banks and other financial institutions will begin listing loan defaulters with Credit Reference Bureaus (CBRs) after the expiry of a three-month notice.

Banks and other lenders had offered bank defaulters a three-month notice to pay their loans following the Central Bank Of Kenya (CBK) lifting of a six-month freeze for the listing of defaulters.

The three-month grace period which began on October 1st, 2020, has finally elapsed. The CBK has placed a freeze on listing to caution Kenyans on the effects of COVID-19.

Kenya has three CRBs, Metropol, TransUnion, and Creditinfo International, and now lenders are now free to list your name there if you are a defaulter.

CRB Listing Suspension

The CBK had announced the suspension of CRB listing for loans that were defaulted after April 1, 2020, which was aimed at cushioning Kenyans from the economic fallout that came with Covid-19, which lasted for six months to September 30, 2020.

However, all lenders were advised to warn their customers for 90 days before listing them with the CRBs. Apparently, the three-month notice has elapsed.

Earlier, Patrick Njoroge, CBK said, “If a loan is in arrears after 60 days from October 1, a financial institution will, in accordance with the existing procedures, give the borrowers notice of the intention to list them with the CRBs.”

“If the loan has not been regularised after the 30-day notice period, the financial institution will then list the non-performing loan with the CRBs, ”he added.

Non-performing loans (NPLs) rose to Sh403.9 billion in October, up from Sh349.9 billion at the end of February. This was the highest eight-month increase in recent history. This is according to data from CBK.

This shows that defaulters have not paid loans amounting to Ksh. 53.95 billion from the period between March and November, when the country was on lockdown following the first case of Coronavirus in the country.

Now thousands of Kenya risk CRB listing in the New Year as most try to pull together their shattered life following the negative effects of Coronavirus.

The number of defaulters has jumped in the wake of COVID-19, which could mean that more people risk being listed as defaulters.

The CRB listing relief was part of a stimulus package announced on March 25, 2020, to cushion distressed businesses and households from the effects of the pandemic that slowed everything down world wide.

This comes even as the Treasury downgraded Kenya’s growth forecast for the year 2021 to 0.6 percent amid the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic-making this the slowest expansion since 2008.

Equity Gets Nod To Merge With 2 Banks In DRC

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Equity Group that runs Equity bank has received regulatory approval to merge the newly acquired Banque Commerciale Du Congo (BCDC) with the unit it has been operating in the market since 2015.

According to the bank, it received the go-ahead from the Central Bank of Congo and will now continue with its plans to merge with Equity Bank Congo (EBC) which it acquired from ProCredit Bank five years ago.

James Mwangi, Equity Group Chief Executive Officer, “the merged outfit will have a single obligator limit— the maximum amount a bank is allowed to lend a single borrower in relation to the total shareholders’ fund— of Sh4.36 billion ($40 million).”

He added that “This will enable our customers in DRC to access higher credit limits to grow and expand their business ventures.”

“Our customer will access with ease the advanced digital banking, and merchant banking services with a suite of payment cards from international card associations,” he said.

Equity holds 86.6 percent shareholding in EBC and the merger will see its stake in Equity BCDC become 77.5 percent. International Finance Corporation, DRC government and minority shareholders, holds the other stake.

Accordingly, the bank said the Managing Directors of the two banks—Yves Cuypers and Celestin Muntuabu—and their Principal Deputies will continue serving in the management committee with the combined board members forming the pioneer board of Equity BCDC.

All branches and other outlets of both EBC and BCDC will have their name and brand identity change to Equity BCDC after the merger.

The resultant outfit will become Equity Banque Commercial du Congo (Equity BCDC).

Shoprite Registers Ksh.3.2 Billion Loss, To Move Out Of Kenya Permanently

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Shoprite plans to move out of Kenya permanently in January 2020 after suffering a 3.2 billion loss in the year that ended in June 2020.

Already, the retailer has notified the Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers that it will close its operations in Kenya with the closing of the head office in January.

Shoprite, the South African retailer has only been in Kenya for a period of two years. Among the stores that are already closed are Westgate Mall, Garden City, Karen branch, and the City Mall branch that is located in Nyali, Mombasa.

This move will hurt the Kenyan economy, as hundreds of jobs will be shed adding to more that have been lost in the year 2020 following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shoprite Redundancy Letters

Shoprite redundancy letters seen by ShopaXo reads, “Endeavors to continue trading in Kenya is no longer viable. The company suffered losses in the amount of Sh3.239 billion for the 2019/20 financial period.”

The letters were sent to its employees stating that the business is no longer viable and that the retailer had made a loss of Ksh. 3.2 billion this year.

“In line with the company’s decision to exit the Kenyan market, it intends to permanently close the home office. It is contemplated that the proposed closure will cause employees at the said office to be declared redundant,” the retailer added.

According to CEO Pieter Engelbrecht, Shoprite Chief Executive Officer, Kenya’s three stores have continued to underperform relative to return requirements while one store had been closed due to the effects of COVID-19.

He was speaking during the live presentation of the retailer’s results. However, generally, Shoprite continued to register a 6.4% growth in sales for the year ending June across its 2300 stores in Africa.

Most of the losses the retailer is experiencing are for stores outside South Africa. As a result, Shoprite is closing down its stores outside of South Africa.

The company lost Ksh1.8 billion from stores outside of South Africa, of which Kenyan Stores contributed the most loss.

Shoprite now joins other supermarket retailers in Kenya that have either closed or are struggling, among them Uchumi, Nakumatt, and Tuskys.

Only Naivas, which continues to open more stores, Quickmart, and Carrefour seems to have what it takes now to make money in Kenya.

When setting shop in Kenya, Shoprite said it was taking advantage of the disarray in Kenya’s retail sector; however, it seems that it has fallen victim to the disarray.

Even as it closes, Shoprite had plans to expand its presence in the country by opening more branches in the country, most of which were to be located in Nairobi.

Another supermarket giant leaves the Kenyan Market after Nakumatt, and Uchumi collapsed.

TSC Announces 15000 Administrative Jobs ( And How To Apply)

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TSC Administrative Jobs: TSC (Teachers service commission) has today December 26, 2020, announced new vacancies for teachers in the country.

The vacancies announced are Deputy Principal, Senior Lecturer, Senior Master, Curriculum Support Officers (CSO), Head Teacher, and Deputy Head Teacher. In total, 15226 new vacancies have been announced. All interested candidates are required to submit their applications before January 13, 2021.

In addition, TSC has announced 1341 vacancies for promotion to Deputy Principal I. Of these, 1096 vacancies are for Deputy Principal I (Grade D2/TSC Scale 12) position while the 1,341 vacancies for the Deputy Principal I slots (Grade D3/TSC Scale 13).

Moreover, there are also 209 vacant positions for Curriculum Support Officer II-(Grade C5/TSC Scale 10) and 2111 positions up for grabs on the Head Teacher position – (Grade C5/TSC Scale 10).

Besides this, there are 39 positions that have been advertised for the Senior Lecturer I position with 1,590 vacancies available on Deputy Principal III jobs-(Grade D1/TSC Scale 11).

The Senior Master IV – (Grade C4/TSC Scale 9) has 6,680 vacancies while 1,765 positions have been advertised for Deputy Head Teacher II – (Grade C4/TSC Scale 9).

45 vacancies have been advertised for the Senior Lecturer IV – (Grade C4/TSC Scale 9) position with a further 350 advertised on the Senior Master IV (C4/T-Scale 9).

How To Apply For TSC Administrative Jobs

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply online at TSC official portal. Once there, click on the ‘Actions’ button of the position you are interested in and fill in the required information.

Details such as TSC number, ID number/ Passport number and your full name will be required.

You will also be required to upload the following information:

  • Letter of appointment to the current grade.
  •  Letter of appointment/deployment to the current responsibility.
  • Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
  • Clearance Certificate by Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
  • Clearance Application from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
  • Clearance Certificate from a Credit Reference Bureau.
  • Tax Compliance Certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)

The advertisement for TSC Administrative jobs comes after TSC recently announced positions for intern teachers.

Facebook Vs Apple: Facebook Takes The Gloves Off In Feud With Apple

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For years, signs of discord have brewed between Facebook and Apple (Facebook Vs Apple). Their Chiefs Executives, Tim Cook of Apple and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg have periodically taken thinly veiled shots at each other.

“If they are making money mainly by collecting gobs of personal data, I think you have a right to be worried, “Cook said of companies like Facebook in 2014.

In turn, Zuckerberg has retorted: “You think because you are paying Apple that you are somehow in alignment with them? If you are in alignment with them, then they’d make their products a lot cheaper.”

Facebook Vs Apple Wars

However, Apple is making changes that threaten Facebook’s business- and the fight has intensified. Early next year, Apple plans to start requiring iPhone owners to especially, choose whether to allow companies to rack them across different apps, a practice that Facebook relies on to target ads and charge advertisers more.

On Wednesday (16/12/2020), Facebook went on the offensive to forestall Apple’s changes. The social network created a website that slammed Apple’s move as a potential hurtful to small businesses. (It did not mention that the changes could hurt itself.) To reinforce its displeasure, the social network also took out full-page ads in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times, to declare that it was “Standing up to Apple.”

And then to doubly emphasize its point, Facebook said it would provide information for the anti-trust suit against Apple filed by the Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite so that the court would understand “the unfair policies that Apple imposes.”

In a blog post, Dan Levy, a vice president of advertising at Facebook, said the company was taking the steps now because, “we have had from many of you, small businesses in particular, that you are concerned about how apple’s changes will impact your ability to effectively reach customers and grow-let alone survive in a pandemic.” He added, “so we are speaking up for small businesses.”

The escalating tensions are part of an unusual, high-stakes Facebook-Apple battle between two of the world’s most valuable companies, “which rely on each other and exert tremendous influence over digital behavior.

At the heart of the fight is how Facebook vs Apple are diametrically opposed on how they make money- and which company wins out is likely to help shape the internet for years to come. Apple prefers that consumers pay for their internet experience, leaving less need for advertisers, while Facebook favors making the internet free for the public with the bill footed by the companies they pay to show people ads.

The fracas is also a reminder of both companies’ power over the internet, as well as their leverage over each other. Facebook needs its app to work on Apple’s devices to reach hundreds of millions of people and Apple needs Facebook’s App- Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger-to make its devices worthy of their high price tags.

We are waiting with bated breath to see how the Facebook Vs Apple wars evolve in the coming days and who will blink first.

The original article above first appeared in the “Saturday Nation”, a publication of “Nation Media House”.  

Huawei Nova 8 Price In Kenya and Full Specifications

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I just wrote that Huawei Nova 8 series has just been launched and wrote about Huawei Nova 8 Pro. The Huawei Nova 8 series futures two devices, the Huawei Nova 8 Pro and the Huawei Nova 8. In this article, we look at Huawei Nova 8 Price in Kenya and the specifications.

You can read about the full specification of the Huawei Nova 8 Pro here. The Huawei Nova 8 series replaces the Huawei Nova 7 series, which has performed well in the Kenyan market.

Specifications

Huawei Nova 8 features comes with a 6.57″ OLED punch-hole display with full HD resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels and 392 PPI. In this device, Huawei includes a 90Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate.

In terms of Optics, the device comes a quad set-up that includes a 64MP (f/1.8 aperture, AF) main camera, 8MP(f/2.4 aperture, FF) ultra wide lens, 2MP(f/2.4 aperture, FF) macro and 2MP(f/2.4 aperture, FF) depth sensor. The Selfie Camera is a 32MP shooter that is punched into the display.

For RAM and ROM, you get 8GB/64GB or 8GB/128GB combination. If you a have read about the Huawei Nova 8 Pro, you will note that this are the same specs the phone has.

The battery is 3800mAh juicer that allows 66W fast charging just as the Pro version.

Pricing

The 8GB/128GB is expected to cost about $500 about Ksh 55,000 while the 8GB/128GB will cost about $565 which is about 62,000 in Kenyan money( You can compare the price here once the device is launched in Kenya).

Both the Huawei Nova 8 and Huawei Nova 8 Pro are expected to launch early next year. We will update you when the device is finally in the Kenyan market.

For full specifications, just compare with Huawei Nova 8 Pro