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Safaricom Results: Profits Dip For The First Time

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Safaricom Results: Profits Dip For The First Time

Safaricom Results: Safaricom Limited, East Africa’s most profitable company has announced its HY (half-year) results ending 30th September 2020 for the 2020/2021 financial year.

According to the company through a broadcast that was streamed live on YouTube and other online platforms such as zoom, the COVID-19 pandemic ate into the profits though there was also sustained investment to support customer growth.

The carrier’s service revenue dropped by 4.8% YoY to KES 118.41b. Profits before interest and tax dropped to 10.5% to KES 44,968.0m.

Voice and Messaging Results

There was also a drop in both voice and messaging services registering a 6.5% and 6.9% decline, respectively. This according to the company was due to growth in customer usage that is offset by continued downward movement on the effective rate per minute.

However, drop messaging is a worldwide phenomenon, where consumers are preferring online messaging services such as WhatsApp.

In the past, Safaricom has been making a lot of money from voice and messaging services.

Mpesa

Mpesa, the companies’ main source of income has also registered a dip in profits for the first time since its inception.

It should be noted that earlier this year, CBK directed that mobile money products to zero-rate person to person transfers of under Ksh. 1000, as well as bank to M-PESA and wallet to bank transfers.

Other services such as payments of goods and services were zero rated, further eating into Mpesa profits.

These among other measures were put in place to cushion Kenyans against the effects of COVID-19, but which further made Mpesa lose billions from such services.  

And as Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa put it, “This has been a tough period for businesses and our customers and we committed ourselves to walk through this journey together. During this period, we took several initiatives to support our customers and the government to pull through this pandemic.”

Mpesa platform for the first registered a 14.5% YoY drop, although the total Mpesa value grew by 32.9% YoY to Ksh. 9.04 trillion while the volume of M-PESA transactions grew to Ksh. 5.12 billion transactions.

During the announcement, Acting CFO Illanna Darcy presented the financial results following the departure of Sateesh Kamath to Vodafone.

Bolt Taxis Now Available On Web App

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Bolt Taxis Now Available On Web App

Bolt Taxis: Bolt has announced today a new way customers can access taxi services through their browsers.

According to the company, this the most effective way for customers and riders with smartphones that are limited on internal storage, weak network connection, and other issues associated with low-end phones.

This new way, the company says is for customers who are conscious of the amount of money spent on data, or just want to book using their PC.

Ola Akinnusi, Bolt’s Country Manager Said, “At Bolt, we’re always working on making urban transportation more accessible and convenient. The option of using the Bolt Web App to request a ride is an all-inclusive step to have everyone enjoy the convenience of transportation while taking into account the concerns related to data costs, their cell phone capabilities, storage, the strength of their connection, and the need to order a ride using their computers. Bolt Web App can work on any device that has a web browser, including tablets, laptops, and even phones with limited storage and poor connection from time to time.”

He added that, “We assure customers there is a Bolt ride available around the corner for everyone irrespective of their means of mobile model or connections. Our users have another possibility to order affordable and reliable rides across the 16 urban centers where we operate.”

Bolt Web App functionality can be accessed by inputting a cell phone number and submitting the OTP number sent to the cellphone number provided by the rider. Once authentication is complete, the rider can select the destination of their choice.

The rides ordered in Bolt Web App can be paid for in cash and using card options. Riders can still rate their trip and driver for their completed ride.

The new web app is accessible via the URL bolt.eu.

Safaricom Rolls Out New Prefixes 0112,0113,0114 And 0115

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Safaricom Rolls Out New Prefixes 0112,0113,0114 And 0115

Safaricom has rolled out new prefixes 0112, 0113, 0114, and 0115 after the same were made available by the Communications Authority of Kenya.

According to Safaricom, the new prefixes will help meet the current demand for sim cards and that the SIM cards are available free. Customers will only be required to top up with Ksh. 50.00 upon choosing a phone number of their choice.

The new numbers will be available at Safaricom shops, dealer outlets, and at all agents countrywide. These new prefixes are coming in after the 0110 and 0111 prefixes were introduced early this year which the company says have already been sold off.

Safaricom now has the capacity to tap into a 4-million market into its network, an addition to the over 37 million currently in its network. The company continues to be the unrivaled leader in the telecommunications industry in Kenya.

Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom’s CEO said, “20 years ago, we began Safaricom with 17,000 customers and a commitment to our community to transform lives. Our customers have grown to more than 35 million today on the back of our commitment and on our constant investment in innovation. The new phone numbers we are launching today will help meet a strong demand for our services that is especially driven by new mobile data customers.”

The company also said that the growing demand for data has seen them introduce ‘4G for Home’ internet that consists of a 4G enabled SIM card and a 4G router that take advantage of Safaricom’s countrywide 4G+ network to provide high-speed home internet in areas outside the company’s home fiber coverage.

This new development comes at a time the company is celebrating 20 of business in the Kenyan market 

Techno Camon 16s Price in Kenya And Full Specifications

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Techno Camon 16s Price in Kenya: Techno is introducing the Camon 16 series in the Kenyan market. Shopaxo has learned that the phone will be retailing for Ksh.17,699.00.

It should be noted that this is the first time we are seeing the “s” series but of note is its resemblance with the Camon 16.

Here is the Techno Camon 16s Price in Kenya and full specifications.

Techno Camon 16s Price In Kenya and Specifications

Summary

performanceMediaTek Helio P22
display6.35 inches (16.13 cm)
storage32 GB
camera16 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP
battery4000 mAh
price in kenya17,699.00
ram3 GB, 3 GB
Launch Date in KenyaNovember 2, 2020 (Unofficial)

key specs

front camera16 MP
battery4000 mAh
processorMediaTek Helio P22
ram3 GB
rear camera16 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP
display6.35 inches

special features

other sensorsLight sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer
fingerprint sensorYes
fingerprint sensor positionRear

general

operating systemAndroid v10 (Q)
sim slotsDual SIM, GSM+GSM
modelCamon 16s
launch dateNovember 2, 2020 (Unofficial)
price in kenyaKsh.17699.00
brandTecno
sim sizeSIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano
network4G: Available (supports Kenyan bands), 3G: Available, 2G: Available
fingerprint sensorYes

multimedia

audio jack3.5 MM
loudspeakerYes

performance

chipsetMediaTek Helio P22
graphicsPowerVR GE8320
processorOcta core, 2 GHz, Cortex A53
architecture64 bit
ram3 GB

design

coloursBlack

display

display typeIPS LCD
aspect ratio20:9
bezelless displayYes, with punch-hole display
pixel density276 ppi
screen size6.35 inches (16.13 cm)
screen resolution720 x 1600 Pixels
touch screenYes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch

warranty

warranty1 Year Manufacturer Warranty

storage

internal memory32 GB
expandable memoryYes, Upto 256 GB

camera

camera setupSingle
settingsExposure compensation, ISO control
camera featuresDigital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus
image resolution4616 x 3464 Pixels
auto focusYes
shooting modesContinuos Shooting, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR)
resolution16 MP Primary Camera, 5 MP Camera, 2 MP Camera
flashYes, LED Flash
video recordingYes
front camera resolution16 MP Primary Camera

battery

user replaceableNo
typeLi-Polymer
usb typecNo
capacity4000 mAh

network connectivity

wifiYes, Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n
wifi featuresMobile Hotspot
bluetoothYes, v5.0
volteYes
usb connectivityMass storage device, USB charging, microUSB 2.0
network support4G (supports Kenyan bands), 3G, 2G
gpsYes, with A-GPS
sim 14G 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
sim sizeSIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano
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

Realme C12 Price in Kenya and Full Specifications

Maishah
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Realme C12 Price in Kenya and Full Specifications

Realme 12C Price in Kenya: The realme c12 is a new entrant in the ever-competitive mobile market in Kenya.

The phone comes with a 6.5 inches IPS LCD 720 x 1560 pixels, a 20:9 ratio with Gorilla Glass. It has a triple real camera with comes as 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF, 2 MP B/W, f/2.4, 2 MP, f/2.4. The rear camera is a 5MP shooter.

As for things RAM and ROM, the device comes with 3GB RAM, and 32GB Storage, eMMC 5.1, Expandable via dedicated microSD card.

One big plus for this phone is its battery, it packs a Li-Po 6000 mAh, that allows fast charge a18W Charge. Here below are the Realme C12 Price In Kenya and full specifications.

Realme C12 Price in Kenya and Specifications

Summary

performanceMediaTek Helio G35
display6.5 inches (16.5 cm)
storage32 GB
camera13 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP
battery6000 mAh
price in Kenya12000
ram3 GB, 3 GB
Launch Date in KenyaNot launched

key specs

front camera5 MP
battery6000 mAh
processorMediaTek Helio G35
ram3 GB
rear camera13 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP
display6.5 inches

special features

other sensorsMagnetic induction sensor, Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Acceleration sensor
fingerprint sensorYes
fingerprint sensor positionRear

general

operating systemAndroid v10 (Q)
sim slotsDual SIM, GSM+GSM
modelC12
launch dateAugust 18, 2020 (Official)
custom uiRealme UI
price in kenyaKsh.12000
brandRealme
sim sizeSIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano (Hybrid)
network4G: Available (supports Kenya bands), 3G: Available, 2G: Available
fingerprint sensorYes

multimedia

fm radioYes
audio jack3.5 MM
loudspeakerYes

performance

chipsetMediaTek Helio G35
graphicsPowerVR GE8320
processorOcta core, 2.3 GHz, Cortex A53
architecture64 bit
ram3 GB

design

width75.9 mm
weight209 grams
waterproofYes, Splash proof
thickness9.8 mm
height164.5 mm
coloursPower Silver, Power Blue

display

display typeHD+ Mini-drop
aspect ratio20:9
bezelless displayYes, with waterdrop notch
screen to body ratio claimed by the brand88.7 %
pixel density270 ppi
screen protectionCorning Gorilla Glass
screen to body ratio calculated81.7 %
screen size6.5 inches (16.5 cm)
screen resolution1600 x 720 Pixels
touch screenYes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch

warranty

warranty1 Year Manufacturer Warranty

storage

internal memory32 GB
expandable memoryYes, Upto 256 GB

camera

camera setupSingle
settingsExposure compensation, ISO control
camera features4 x Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus
image resolution4128 x 3096 Pixels
auto focusYes, Phase Detection autofocus
shooting modesContinuos Shooting, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR)
resolution13 MP f/2.2 (upto 4x Digital Zoom) Primary Camera, 2 MP f/2.4, Depth Camera, 2 MP f/2.4 Camera
physical apertureF2.0
flashYes, LED Flash
video recording1920×1080 @ 30 fps, 1280×720 @ 30 fps
front camera resolution5 MP f/2.0 Primary Camera

battery

user replaceableNo
typeLithium-ion
usb typecNo
capacity6000 mAh

network connectivity

wifiYes, Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n
wifi featuresMobile Hotspot
bluetoothYes, v5.0
volteYes
usb connectivityMass storage device, USB charging, microUSB 2.0
network support4G (supports Kenyan bands), 3G, 2G
gpsYes, with A-GPS, Glonass
sim 14G Bands: TD-LTE 2600(band 38) / 2300(band 40) / 2500(band 41), FD-LTE 2100(band 1) / 1800(band 3) / 900(band 8) / 850(band 5), 3G Bands: UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz, 2G Bands: GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz, GPRS: Available EDGE:, Available
sim sizeSIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano
sim 24G Bands: TD-LTE 2600(band 38) / 2300(band 40) / 2500(band 41), FD-LTE 2100(band 1) / 1800(band 3) / 900(band 8) / 850(band 5), 3G Bands: UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz, 2G Bands: GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz, GPRS: Available EDGE:, Available

Jumia Black Friday 2020: Jumia and Safaricom Partner To Offer Customers Discounts

Maishah
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Jumia Black Friday 2020: Jumia and Safaricom Partner To Offer Customers Discounts

Shoppers who make purchases on Jumia can get up to a 5% discount during the Jumia Black Friday 2020 month of November.

Thanks to a partnership between Jumia and Safaricom, shoppers who make payments via the Safaricom Mpesa platform will get a 5% discount.

Taking to the media, the two companies said that customers will automatically have a discount on their total shopping value when they chose Mpesa as their preferred method of payment. This is applicable both on Jumia and Jumia Food.

Sam Chappatte, Jumia Kenya CEO said, “Jumia’s Black Friday is the biggest sale of the year – and it is all about saving customers money. As customers continue to feel the economic pressure of COVID-19, we expect the event to be very relevant. Throughout November you can save by shopping on Jumia. We are happy to partner with Safaricom to offer consumers using M-PESA at checkout an extra 5% off. Don’t forget the biggest deals will be exclusively on the Jumia App and we urge our consumers to download it for the best deals.

Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom’s Chief Executive Officer added, “The ability to sell and buy remotely coupled with M-PESA’s safety and convenience has seen more customers and businesses continue to embrace the service. We are excited to partner with Jumia to reward online shoppers across the country for paying with M-PESA, even as we continue to celebrate our 20th Anniversary,” said Peter Ndegwa, Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom.

 The black Friday 2020 shopping extravaganza begun on November 1st, 2020, and end on 30th November 2020, with shoppers eligible for discounts for the first 3 transactions within the period.

Things to know during the Jumia Black Friday 2020 Shopping Extravaganza

Here are a few things you may need to know during the promotion;

  • Discounts will be applied automatically when shoppers chose M-pesa as their preferred method of payment.
  • To be eligible, one needs to transact Ksh.1000.00 and above for a maximum of Ksh. 250.00 discount.
  • The offer is available for the first three such transactions throughout the period will get the discount.
  • The promotion runs from 1st November.

The Black Friday 2020 sale, marks the beginning of the festive season even as more and more Kenyans are moving online to do their shopping.

Over the few months, Kenyans have been moving online to shop due to the challenges caused by the  COVID-19 Pandemic.

Jumia is an online selling platform that ships its products to customers across the country. As of 2019, Jumia had over 11,000 businesses and millions of shoppers visiting its platform.

Jumia Introduces ‘Jumia KOL Program’ To Replace Affiliate Program

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Jumia Introduces ‘Jumia KOL Program’ To Replace Affiliate Program

Jumia Kenya has sent an email to its affiliates with a message that it intends to shift its entire affiliate program “Jumia Affiliate Program” to a new program called “Jumia KOL Program.”

From the email sent to us, there is no further explanation as to what the new program will look like or how it will work. It is not also clear whether the change will affect the current affiliates and their source of revenue.

According to the email in our possession, the switch is not taking effect immediately but the changes are expected to take place on December 8, 2020. All current affiliates are expected to be moved to the new platform without loss of data.

However, all affiliates have been asked to set up a new password, update their payment information, and generate a new affiliate link. The email also says that there are app links being available.

According to Jumia, affiliates will not experience any changes to current payments, earned commissions, tracking orders, and level of service.

Jumia Affiliate Program is a program that pays affiliates up to 11% commissions for successful referrals. Affiliates can create referral links or use banners to promote their blogs and social media.

We are looking forward to seeing how KOL, that Jumia says stands for Key Opinion Leader will affect the revenue flow of affiliates

Co-operative Bank To Expand Market In 5-Year Plan

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Co-operative Bank To Expand Market In 5-Year Plan

Co-operative Bank has launched a five-year strategic plan that will see it expand its footing and market size in Kenya.

This is one of its latest strategic business development plans that have seen the bank regain its top position as one of Kenya’s most formidable and profitable banks.

Chief executive officer Dr. Gideon Muriuki said at the company’s annual general meeting, “We realized we are strong here and even as we are looking at opportunities in other countries within the region, we appreciated that (adding more branches in various parts of Kenya is of greater priority). We have done very well in terms of being able to deepen ourselves in market segments that we are already in.”

During the bank’s Annual General Meeting that was held virtually, saw the shareholders ratify its acquisition of the Jamii Bora Bank and the payment of Sh. 5.9 billion dividends.

The bank noted, “The payment represented a timely injection of liquidity to shareholders and notably the 15 million-member Co-operative Movement to mitigate the economic ravages of the pandemic.”

Ksh. 3.79 billion was paid to the Co-op Holdings Co-operative Society, a strategic shareholder with a 64.5% stake.

During the address, Dr. Muriuki pointed out that Co-op Bank’s recent acquisition of Jamii Bora Bank was part of the ongoing local expansion, adding that the new subsidiary is expected to return to profitability from the coming year.

Co-op Bank recorded improved performance during the year 2019, that saw the bank report a profit before tax of KSh 20.7 billion.

The Ksh. 20.7 billion, represented a 14 percent increase from the Sh. 18.2 billion that was posted during the 2018 financial year, and against a backdrop of a challenging operating environment.

SportPesa Return Dealt A blow, Just Hours After Resuming Operations

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SportPesa Return Dealt A blow, Just Hours After Resuming Operations

SportPesa’s return to gaming in Kenya has been put on hold. This comes just a few hours after the company’s CEO; Ronald Karauri announced the return of the popular gaming site through his social media profiles.

Now, Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) stopped Milestone Games Limited from operating under the Sportpesa gaming brand, dealing a blow to a company that has been out of business for 16 months. According to BCLB, the trade has been taken from Pevans East Africa Limited unduly.

Prohibited From Using SportPesa

According to a letter written to Milestone’s operations manager Bernard Chauro on Friday, to BCLB chairman Cyrus Maina says in part, “According to information in our possession, the tradename ‘Sportpesa’ belongs to M/s Pevans East Africa Limited. The said company has filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal in Nairobi no. 471 of 2019. The matter before the Court of Appeal contests the issuance of the gaming license to Pevans East Africa t/a Sportpesa. The matter is scheduled to be heard on November 16, 2020.”

“You are therefore prohibited from using the trade name ‘Sportpesa’, domains www.ke.sportpesa.com, www.sportpesa.co.ke, shortcodes 29050 and 79079, Pay Bill numbers 521521, 9555700 and 955700 until such a time when the Court of Appeal shall make a determination on the pending appeal and until the Board considers your request to use them.”

However, BCLB advised that Milestone is free to continue trading as “Milestone Bet”, through the domains www.milestonebet.co.ke, www.milestonegames.co.ke, and www.milestonegames.com.

The ban on the use of the SportPesa brand name and its infrastructure, BCLB said, was to avoid causing confusion to the public.

“The reason being that there is a variance in the trade name the board approved vis-à-vis the name Milestone Games Limited currently wishes to adopt,” BCLB noted.

SportPesa is Back

On Friday 30th November 2020, Karauri had announced the return of SportPesa on social media. He said, “We are relaunching our operations today, Friday, October 30. The people who have been asking about our return, we are back. I’m happy to announce that the SportPesa brand is back under a new BCLB license holder. As market leaders, SportPesa will focus on upholding the highest standards of service and responsible gaming. We look forward to working closely with BCLB and all other stakeholders. We are excited to explore a wide range of partnerships in Kenya over the coming weeks and months, which will prioritize the development of sports in communities across our great country!”

This new development does not only deal a blow to the company, but to millions of betting fans who had taken to social media to celebrate.

Samsung Reclaims Top Position From Huawei

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Samsung Reclaims Top Position From Huawei

Samsung has reclaimed the first position in the smartphone market after the position was taken over, albeit for a short time by Huawei in the previous quarter.

According to the latest report from IDC, Samsung has reclaimed the top position in the 3rd quarter of 2020 from Huawei. Samsung shipped 80.4 million smartphones, which is up 2.9% year over year with India being their largest market accounting for 15% of the total volume.

This growth has been attributed to the strong performance in the sub $250 price segment where its M series models performed well. On the other hand, the A-series as well as the Note series performed well in the US market which attributed to 20% of the total volume.

Huawei which had taken over the top spot lost to the second position after shipping a total of 51.9 million smartphone units during the same period.

Huawei continued to suffer a 22% drop due to a decline in the international market. It was also noted that the market in China registered a 15% drop. The decline has been blamed on the increasing impact of the US sanctions.

Xiaomi now takes the third position having displaced Apple to the fourth. Xiaomi shipped 46.5 million smartphone units. This registered a 42% growth with strong gains being made in the Indian market and a continued strong presence in China. Of note, the Redmi 9 series performed well in both China and India.

Apple shipped 41.6 million units with was a 10.6% drop year over year. Analysts blamed the drop on the delay to launch the new iPhone 12, which is in the third quarter.

However, the iPhone 11 was cited as having performed exceptionally well followed by the SE.  According to IDC, Apple is expected to do well in the coming quarter

The surprising news is that Xiaomi pipped Apple from the 3rd spot thanks to them shipping 46.5 million devices. This was a 42% growth due to strong gains in India and a strong presence in China. Their Redmi 9 series did well in both China and India, with strong demand for iPhone 12 and robust trade-in offers from carriers.

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