Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Wednesday October 28th, 2015

Head of Airtel Money feted at the annual IT women conference

Airtel Kenya’s Head of Airtel Money Topyster Muga has been crowned the IT Woman of the Year at the first annual IT women conference in Sub-Saharan Africa organized by Techno Brain- Kenya. Dubbed the Pink Potential Initiative, this pioneering event aimed at  celebrating the great achievements by women in the industry.

Duma Works launches recruitment services for agribusinesses

Kenyan online and SMS-based recruitment platform Duma Works has announced the launch of an affordable hiring and employment package specifically catering to local agribusinesses. Citing the fact that the agricultural sector in Kenya is a key contributor to the country’s economy and accounts for 60 per cent of total employment, Duma Works said the majority of this economy – around 80 per cent of it is not formalized and thus excluded from professional hiring services and employment agencies.

70% Kenyan businesses in danger of cyber attacks – Serianu study

At least 80 per cent of Kenyans and 70 per cent of Kenyan businesses connected to the internet are vulnerable to cybercriminal attacks, according to the report titled “THE STATE OF CYBERSECURITY IN KENYA” released by security consulting firm Serianu.

Kenya’s Kalasha Awards expand to include film and TV market

After a five-year run celebrating the local film and TV industries through an annual award ceremony, Kenya’s Kalasha Awards have expanded its focus this year. Rebranded as the Kalasha Intl. Film & TV Festival & Market, this year’s edition, which runs through Oct. 30, will for the first time include a two-day market bringing together East African producers, broadcasters, distributors and government bodies, with their counterparts from the rest of the world.

Paynet Group rebrands to Interswitch

Interswitch has launched its brand new corporate identity in Kenya. This marks a new phase in Interswitch’s expansion across Africa and follows the completion of merger with leading East African e-payments provider Paynet Group. Effectively, Paynet Group now becomes Interswitch East Africa.

Expanding operations into Kenya? Brainstorm sets the scene on what to expect

Mark Walker, associate vice president: Sub-Saharan Africa at IDC, says Kenya’s IT market is expected to generate $2.3 billion this year, and achieve growth of between eight and ten percent in 2016. A Deloitte report titled ‘Competitiveness: Catching the next wave’ states the projected growth by the ICT sector in Kenya stands at almost eight percent. The region made headlines when its ranking on the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2015 Global Information and Technology Report and Networked Readiness Index moved up six places to 86th position this year.