Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Monday March 9, 2015

Microsoft women encourage high school girls in Kenya to take up careers in STEM….. Intel to donate 30 computers worth Kshs 1.5 million to boost ICT clubs in 9 secondary schools……. Vodafone launches M-Pesa payments between Tanzania and Kenya…and much more in today’s wrap up.

Microsoft women encourage high school girls in Kenya to take up careers in STEM

Microsoft Corporation employees marked this year’s International Women’s Day eve by holding the 4th Edition of Microsoft’s ICT Day for girls dubbed “DigiGirlz”, in Machakos County, Kenya. The one day ICT workshop will be hosted in partnership with; I Choose Life Africa, Craft Silicon Foundation and Techno Brain Limited.

Intel to donate 30 computers worth Kshs 1.5 million to boost ICT clubs in 9 secondary schools

Intel Corporation has this morning announced a donation of 30 computers worth KES 1,500,000 to boost ICT clubs in 9 secondary schools located in various counties across Kenya.

Intel has already trained and equipped teachers with necessary skills to start and run ICT clubs in 12 schools across Machakos, Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado counties and this donation is aimed at equipping additional ICT clubs in girls’ schools.

Vodafone launches M-Pesa payments between Tanzania and Kenya

Vodafone which is Safaricom’s largest shareholder has launched its first international money transfer corridor between Tanzania and Kenya through M-Pesa.

With over 20 million Safaricom and seven million Vodacom Tanzania Mpesa customers, the two countries will be able to make seamless transactions between each other and still benefit from the low-cost of M-Pesa against existing international remittance services between the two countries.

Ericson, Coca-Cola, SolarKiosk, Tigo to empower communities through Ekocenter

Ericsson has announced a pilot project to bring mobile connectivity to EKOCENTER, a social enterprise initiative designed to empower community well-being by bringing safe water, solar power and mobile communications, as well as basic goods and services to underserved communities. The pilot project will be conducted in collaboration with Tigo Rwanda and German start-up company, Solarkiosk.

“EKOCENTER is an innovative social enterprise that endeavors to help communities thrive by providing further access to resources. Engaging new partners to join this journey adds skills and expertise beyond our core enhancing the value for the people in these communities,” said Beatriz Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer, and The Coca-Cola Company. “Connectivity has become a fundamental part of thriving communities and economies. We’re excited about the solutions Ericsson can deliver to EKOCENTER, solutions we believe will foster positive change.”

Safaricom opens new data centre in Kapsoya, Eldoret

Safaricom has opened its first state-of-the-art equipment hub in Eldoret in a move that is aimed at enhancing network quality in the North Rift region.

The hub has been set up at Kapsoya in the outskirts of Eldoret Town at a cost of Ksh 200 million. The facility will provide space to house equipment for the expanding Safaricom enterprise customer base in the region, improve quality of service to its subscribers and help reduce network outages. This part of Safaricom’s ambitious network expansion plans to boost service delivery.

GOtv unveils consumer promotion, slices decoder prices by 22 percent

For the next 8 weeks, GOtv will be giving away Sh1million weekly and raft of prizes worthSh100million in a new promotion dubbed ‘Dunga Milli’ that aims to increase GOtv penetration as more and more Kenyans move to embrace digital TV.

GOtv, Kenya’s leading Digital Terrestrial Television service is promising to change the lives of ordinary Kenyans by turning them into instant millionaires through this exciting campaign launched in Nairobi on Friday evening.