Iflix, an Asia-based video-on-demand (VOD) service, will launch in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya in August. Founded in 2015 in Malaysia, iflix has rapidly expanded across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North African markets. In March, to back its expansion into new markets, including Africa, iflix raised $90 million (Sh9.3 billion) in a funding round, which included Liberty Global, one of the world’s largest media companies and Zain, the Kuwait-based mobile operator. But rather than take on Netflix which launched in Africa in Jan. 2016 and whose pricing will mainly target Africa’s wealthier middle class customers, iflix is looking to position itself as…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Kenyan banks have two months to compile and file with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) detailed reports of how they plan to confront emerging cyber security threats. The CBK, which is the financial services sector regulator, says in an industry guidance note that the move is intended to ensure stability of the industry as it continues to automate its processes. “All institutions are required to submit their cyber security policy, strategies and frameworks to the Central Bank of Kenya by August 31, 2017,” the draft guidance note on cyber risk says. “CBK is well aware of the fact that…
By Kosta Kioleoglou For several months now, there has been speculation about what will happen during the August elections. This is a special year, with several important upcoming events locally and internationally, which might create a volatile environment. Since the beginning of the year, news about the economy and the market has not been very positive. Before analysing the property market, it is useful to review the macroeconomic data and how they affect daily life in the country. Besides, the country’s economic growth is now forecast to slow down; the IMF says it is likely to be around 5.3% instead…
Repaying your bank loan or mortgage blindly, without knowing exactly the interest and other charges you are paying over and above the principle will now be a thing of the past. The Central of Kenya (CBK) has simplified and brought to your fingertips the ability to calculate the total cost of credit to inform your decision-making prior to taking up a loan product. In partnership with the Bankers Association of Kenya (KBA), the CBK has launched a new Cost of Credit Website that will provide information on fees and charges relating to loan products offered by commercial and microfinance banks.…
Nearly a decade after the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, a new Pew Research Center survey finds global economic spirits are reviving. Many Europeans, Japanese and Americans feel better today about their economies than they did before the financial crisis. More broadly, in 11 of 18 countries that were surveyed in both 2016 and 2017, publics feel more positive about their economy than they did a year ago. The Dutch, Germans, Swedes and Indians see their national economies in the most positive light. While global publics are increasingly upbeat about economic conditions, the overall view of the economy is…
BY ANTONY MUTUNGA During the end of the 19th century, the world was introduced to something spectacular in the corporate scene not knowing it will become one of the most important applications in the business world, Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) started making its presence felt around the globe. Starting off with the first wave of mergers and acquisitions that only involved horizontal mergers, it has evolved to the current stage which has seen companies not only move from horizontal mergers but also include takeovers. The increased competitiveness in the business world was a major reason for its growth, making it…
By Isaac swila Long before the emergence of betting and gaming firms in, the local sports landscape was that of squalor. Not only was the industry financially starved but clubs, federations and associations also struggled to make ends meet. Cases of teams failing to fly out to world capitals to honour championships and tournaments were common phenomena – they still are. On the football scene, it was usual, or rather normal to find players trekking to training for lack of fare as others were locked out of their residences for defaulting on rent payment were plenty. Well, it’s not that…
They are young, suave, and urbane. Besides, some of them are lucky enough to have limitless cash at their disposal, while others have impeccable organisation skills and the gift of the gab to boot. These new breeds of politicians are not just trending. No. They have taken city politics by storm, sending their more established and experienced opponents into panic mode. Besides the grandiose of wealth, the swagger of youth and the ability to charm crowds, however, can these young politicians really change the status quo? Can they inject something new and refreshing into our body politics that has, hitherto,…
BY VICTOR ADAR Brian Ngunyi Gacari believes he can change the landscape on real estate in the country by simply shifting focus on alleviating food insecurity in the 21st Century through agribusiness. In 2010, at the age of 25, he founded Property Reality Company, a real estate player popular as PRC. While starting off, he was mainly focusing on purchasing and reselling land. But something got the founding chairman thinking – Nairobi is urbanizing very fast and most satellite cities turning into concrete jungles that coming up with a creative business model that includes developing and selling agricultural land together…
BY ANTONY MUTUNGA The growing popularity of the Smartphone all over the world has seen everything moving mobile; from shopping, gaming, marketing to even payments. This is especially the case in Africa where financial technology through mobile is coming up fast. In Kenya for example, this can mostly be seen through the success of mobile money, which has been extremely successful after only being in the market for the last 10years. The likes of M-Pesa, Airtel money and Orange money have increased financial inclusion in the region where most people do not hold a bank account. Mobile money has revolutionized…