Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Monday October 12th, 2015

Chinese firm trains Kenyan students on ICT

Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei said 10 engineering students from Kenya are already in China for further professional and practical ICT training. A statement from the Kenya ICT Authority said the second batch of the students who left Nairobi last Friday will be in Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen for two weeks for training to enhance their ICT capacity.

Regulator to block unregistered phone lines in 90 days

Thousands of mobile phone subscribers with unregistered SIM cards will be blocked from the telecoms’ networks in the next 90 days as the regulator moves to enforce new rules meant to clear the system of criminals. The planned switch-off comes in the wake of the Communications Authority of Kenya’s (CA) publication of new regulations that are intended to complement the SIM card registration laws that were passed two years ago.

KK Security introduces Smokescreen solutions to enhance security offerings

In order to keep emerging security challenges through the introduction of innovative solutions to its clients, KK Security has now added a new product to its security offering – the Smokescreen solution which provide a blinding effect by filling secured spaces with white odorless and harmless smoke during emergency incidences. The Smokescreen solution has been introduced as part of an exclusive deal with UK’s Concept Smokescreen which has developed the technology.

Mount Kenya University to host business summit

Mount Kenya University in conjunction with Leipzig University, Germany, will host the annual International Conference for the Advancement of Business and Management Practice in Africa (ICABUMPA). The conference will be held at KICC, Nairobi, between October 27 and 29. Dr Vincent Gaitho, chairman of the organizing committee tells us how the conference will accelerate entrepreneurial growth in Africa.

Firm loses bid for Safaricom frequencies

A local telecommunications equipment supplier has lost a bid to reclaim broadband frequencies issued to Safaricom for rollout of the Sh14.9 billion national police surveillance system. Tetra Radio Ltd lost the appeal case filed against it by the industry regulator Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) after the Court of Appeal quashed High Court orders issued in June 2011 that had granted the telecom firm’s claim to the frequencies.

Are East Africa’s CIO’s ready for El Nino?

Following local and international climate experts’ warning that the looming El Niño will rival the strongest ever recorded, authorities all around East Africa are bracing themselves and preparing their people for the worst.

Non-profits Championing Tech for Girls in Kenya

Like many young women in Kenya, Miriam Wambui graduated high school without a job and without money to attend university. She hadn’t been greatly exposed to technology and had no idea she needed to learn about it. But while doing community-based volunteer work, she heard about Nairobits—a nonprofit that offers Kenyan youth ages 15 to 24 training in information computer technology, and she went from, as she describes it, “not knowing how to press a mouse,” to becoming an expert in information communications technology (ICT) and gaining skills like Web design and development.