Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Friday July 17th, 2015

JamboPay CEO Danson Muchemi shows Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero (left) and his deputy, Jonathan Mueke (centre), how an e-ticketing machine works during the launch of the Nairobi County e-payment system

Kenya moves to e-Visa application, manual processing to be phased out…. City Hall partners with JamboPay for mobile rent payment….. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A now in Kenya….and more.

Kenya moves to e-Visa application, manual processing to be phased out

Kenya has moved its visa application to cashless e-Visa application, under the Department of Migration, a move that sees processing of manual visas given a deadline. Processing of manual visas is going to be acceptable for the period running up to 1st September 2015. The launch of the much anticipated e-visa that serves 132 countries is seen as a big and much needed push for the Kenyan Travel and Tourism industry, and promises to bring to an end the hassle that visa application is associated with.

City Hall partners with JamboPay for mobile rent payment

Nairobi tenants can now pay rent at JamboPay agents and confirm the payments on their mobile phones. Paul Nderitu, who is the head of agency at JamboPay, said the company contracted to collect money for the county has established agents similar to those of Safaricom’s M-Pesa in all estates.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A now in Kenya

Samsung has unveiled its 4G-enabled mid-range tablet dubbed Galaxy Tab A which offers outstanding performance, class leading features and a more comfortable viewing experience. In addition, the new Galaxy Tab A comes with an enhanced S-pen that will give users a realistic handwriting/drawing experience for a more convenient way to stay creative and productive on the go.

Airtel Kenya provides computers to CFSK for refurbishment, distribution

Airtel Kenya has provided used computers to Computer for Schools (CFSK) for refurbishment and distribution to schools across the country. This is part of the two organizations’ effort to improve access to modern technology and quality education in learning institutions. Computer for Schools Kenya will refurbish the computers and make them available to schools.

Kenya Power deploys SAP solution to enhance procurement processes

Kenya Power has announced the successful deployment of the latest SAP Business Suite to enhance efficiency of local procurement processes. Kenya Power currently spends most of its procurement budget on foreign sourced supplies, but now aims to support local industry by promoting local suppliers of key materials. The system is thus set up in accordance with government guidelines that 40 percent of the budgets of all state corporations and ministries must be used for local sourcing.