Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Thursday October 8th, 2015

Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT

Kenya’s developers to benefit from Barclays Africa’s program meant to accelerate fintech innovation..Matiang’i urges governors to bridge ICT skills gap, create jobs….City’s procurement department defends JamboPay deal….and more

CA orders fresh allowances audit as Matiang’i declines to intervene

ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has washed his hands over financial troubles gripping the Communications Authority of Kenya, saying the matter rests with the board of directors.

“I want to let the institution deal with their issues as an independent institution, at a time when my role will be required, I will play my role,” said Dr Matiang’i.

Matiang’i urges governors to bridge ICT skills gap, create jobs

County Governors have been urged to begin digital talent programmes and recruit at least a hundred fresh graduates in each county in a bid to increase youth capacity in ICT skills.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Thursday said that Kenya is facing a challenge in the sector and that all government agencies should work to breach the gap so as to achieve vision 2030.

City’s procurement department defends JamboPay deal

The Nairobi County Government’s procurement department has defended the deal with WebTribe Ltd, the firm that owns e-payment system JamboPay, saying the company awarded the tender after reaching the threshold required by the Public Procurement Act.

While appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, Nairobi County’s procurement director Solomon Obiero said that out of the 65 companies that had showed interest in the bidding to collect revenue through automated systems, WebTribe emerged the best after a technical and financial evaluation.

Strathmore University first in Africa with IBM Mainframe z technology

IBM and Strathmore University’s @iLabAfrica, the centre of excellence in ICT research, have signed an agreement to expand their partnership into training for the IBM mainframe z technology. This agreement makes Strathmore the first university in Africa with the IBM mainframe z technology.

IBM said it will install the technology infrastructure at @iLabAfrica and impart transferable skills on the same to senior lecturers at Strathmore’s Faculty of information technology.

Liquid Telecom Kenya, Barclays in Kshs 7.6 million deal to connect 10 branches with free WiFi

Liquid Telecom has put WiFi into banking halls at 10 of Barclays Bank of Kenya’s flagship branches in Nairobi, as well as its head office in Bishop’s Gate, Ngong Road, in a Kshs 7.6 million project that makes Barclays the first bank in Kenya to offer its customers free Internet access in its branches.

The project is aimed at enabling Barclays’ customers to access Internet banking services and other online content for free via WiFi through a secure network that is fully independent from the bank’s fibre connection, at speeds of 2Mbps.

Airtel Kenya leadership serve customers at retail shops

Airtel Kenya directors led by CEO Adil El Youssefi marked the International Customer Service Week by serving customers in various Airtel retail outlets and call centers in Nairobi. The retail outlets included; Moi Avenue Express shop, Sarit Center, Koinange, Greenspan, and Parkside Express+ shops.

The leaders had interactions with customers, through the call centers and Airtel retail shops gaining valuable insights into the key business drivers and opportunities for growth. They also took the opportunity to educate customers on the various recent innovations by the company initiated including the Airtel UnlimiNet; Airtel Insurance; Smartika na 5X bonus and M-health with Medanta Healthcare; network upgrade and expansion of retail shops across the country.

Kenya’s developers to benefit from Barclays Africa’s program meant to accelerate fintech innovation

Africa’s innovators and start-ups will have the ability to scale their ideas in new markets following the launch today of Rise, a physical and virtual community that facilitates collaboration and fintech innovation.

Funded by the Barclays Africa Group, Rise is ideally positioned to take advantage of technology solutions that are not reliant on physical infrastructure. This is particularly relevant in the African context as it provides developing markets with an opportunity to leapfrog ageing analogue infrastructure deployed in most developed economies and with it the ability to solve some of Africa’s development challenges.