Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Thursday October 15th, 2015

Kenya Open Data usage on the rise… Hackathon targets poverty in Kenya… Kenya media condemns ‘draconian’ parliamentary press law… To get more information on these and other stories from our wrap-up today, read on…

Kenya Open Data usage on the rise

The Kenya Open Data Initiative (KODI) has recorded a steady growth in access to content on country’s Open Data portal, signifying its increased importance in planning at national and County government levels for various stakeholders including civil society, entrepreneurs, media, development partners, academicians and researchers among others.

Liquid Telecom Kenya completes 2-month project to protect fibre during El Niño rains

Liquid Telecom, has this week completed a two-month project to protect its network during the anticipated heavy El Niño rains. The company has protected its networks by ensuring all of its customers will switch data flows seamlessly in the event of a disruption. It has additionally ensured instant power back up at all hub sites, and relocated fibre and equipment in high risk areas, in an exercise of assessment and relocation that has involved more than 100 field staff and contractors over recent weeks.

Hackathon targets poverty in Kenya

Hundreds of Kenyan and Canadian geeks will compete over Skype in a 28-hour ‘hackathon’ to develop apps to improve rural Kenyans’ health, farms and access to education.  The November 20-22 Poverty Hackathon will be the first international development-focused virtual hackathon – taking place on two continents simultaneously, the organisers say. Hackathons are marathon brainstorming sessions where computer programmers get together to write software.

Video: Kenya’s ICT sector registers substantial growth

Kenya’s ICT sector has registered substantial growth. CIO East Africa Managing Director, Harry Hare joins CNBC Africa to look at the ICT sector in Kenya.

Fintech Kenya partners with Interactive Intelligence to provide Customer Interaction Centre solution

Fintech Kenya has partnered with Interactive Intelligence to provide the Customer Interaction Center (CIC) Solution, an all-in-one IP communications software suite that will enhance customer experience for mid-size to large organizations.Speaking during the signing of the partnership, Fintech Group’s General Manager Tony Mbugua said that customers expect nothing short of the most efficient and knowledgeable service when they contact any organization, therefore making this partnership very timely.​

Kenya media condemns ‘draconian’ parliamentary press law

Kenyan media reacted with dismay on Thursday after lawmakers approved a bill that could see journalists slapped with huge fines or jailed if found guilty of “defaming” parliament. The clause, which outlaws any publication of words deemed “defamatory to parliament”, provides for fines of up to 500 000 shillings ($4 8500) or a two-year jail term.

How British granny found out her Kenyan Internet lover had 47 women

A 61-year-old British grandmother, Judith Stillwell, must have thought she had finally found the man of her life when she met and fell in love with Ovi Elias, a Kenyan Internet fraudster. So much was she in love with him that she rushed into a wedding with the scammer, only to realise that the serial lover had over 47 women he met on the Internet and travelled all over the world to be with them and fleece them of their hard earned money.