Is LGBTQ understood, known, or unknown in Kenya? It is time to demystify and bridge the knowledge gap between the known and the unknown to hopefully provide some clarity BY DAMARIS KEMUNTO Gender identity, typically clustered under the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer (LGBTQ +), invokes different reactions from different audiences and sectors in Kenyan society. The question surrounding LGBTQ dates back to the 1940s when a renowned author, Allan Berube, through his publication named Coming Out Under Fire, advocated for the rights of gays and lesbians. He noted that World War II could be considered the birth of…
Author: Ruqaiah Al Meri
By Jenny Coetzee and Angelica Ouya Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of daily life globally, and children today will grow up in a world where AI-powered devices and applications are increasingly prevalent. This new tech, like many other machine learning and databases, has many benefits, it also poses dangers and it is essential for parents and teachers to help children navigate it, understand its potential risks, and reap its benefits. AI has the potential to revolutionise education in Kenya by improving learning outcomes, increasing access to education, and providing personalised learning experiences for students, as it is…
BY Teresiah W. King’ara Viktor E. Frankl, the author of the book, was an Auschwitz survivor and a psychiatrist. He shares lessons and insights gained during the years he survived at the concentration camp. He describes man as: “that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord’s Prayer on his lips” Mr Frankl advances the notion that, truly, man can adjust to any living conditions if he finds/puts purpose to his existence, including the suffering we go through. He also counters that beyond nature and…
By Dr. Penninah Iutung Profiteering and greed of big pharma know no boundaries. We have barely pulled out of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which big pharmaceutical companies, once again, insisted on putting profits before lives. According to Action Aid, Moderna, BioNTech, and Pfizer were reaping astronomical and unconscionable profits due to their monopolies of mRNA COVID vaccines, with the three corporations having earned more than $26 billion in revenue in the first half of 2021. This was despite the fact that taxpayers were the primary funders of COVID-19 vaccine research, development, and production – the world owns that intellectual property,…
Since 2016 African tech start-ups have recorded an increase in funding, that has helped push up the tech sector in the continent. With the pandemic, most investors mainly focused on tech, a trend that strengthened most African start-ups. As the world started to slowly recover from the pandemic, funding to African tech start-ups hit new heights. In 2021, businesses substantively benefited as funding hit the $2 billion mark. On the other hand, the latest report by African Tech Startups Funding reveals that 2022 was a great year for the continent’s tech start-ups as funding surpassed the $3 billion mark. A…
The company behind popular mobile browsers, Opera has unveiled a new browser mode for football fans. The reboot is expected to offer an in-depth football experience built right into the “data-saving” Opera Mini internet browser, enabling fans to follow action from around the globe without having to download an additional application. During the 2022 World Cup tournament, Opera introduced “Live Scores”, in which a scoreboard was installed right on the Opera Mini homepage so that fans did not have to jump to different sites to stay on top of the action, and thereby expend additional data. Today, Live Scores is…
BY ANTONY MUTUNGA A pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca recently launched Africa Health Innovation Hub in an effort push up healthcare equity while fostering partnerships with a range of stakeholders, including governments, healthcare societies, academia, healthcare providers and patient advocacy groups patient advocacy groups, to better improve patient outcomes. The hub, which is the latest in the global A. Catalyst Network, a connected array of over 20 hubs worldwide, aims at using the ‘latest science and technology’ to improve access to healthcare for patients on the continent. It seeks to tackle current healthcare challenges through collaborative innovation, promote affordable and equitable healthcare…
Six start-ups from Uasin Gichu County have been awarded Sh1 million through the Mozilla Mashinani tech-innovation challenge. The six received the award during a workshop for tech-startups and students held in Eldoret in a challenge which was launched by Mozilla Africa Mradi and the Gladys Boss Foundation (GBF). They include Tindo – a video on demand platform, My Shule app, Mche, Mama Fua, Lifeline, M-Rafiki and Gavo Foods. Besides the funds, the six will also receive training on how to improve their ideas and products. Speaking during the awarding ceremony, Mozilla Corporation Senior Director, Ms Alice Munyua, said that the…
BY SILAS APOLLO Westlands area in Nairobi remains the preferred destination for office spaces ahead of previously sought-after locations such as Upperhill, Kilimani and Mombasa road, as per the latest report on property by Knight Frank, which says that the area has become the most sought-after destination by most businesses over the last one year. As Upperhill, Kilimani and even Mombasa Road, which have previously been the most desired destinations, continue to experience an exodus of businesses, office spaces in the destinations continue to remain empty. The report for the second half of 2022, indicates that influx to Westlands could…
BY NBM WRITER Money plays a central role in most aspects of life, and many of us are constantly preoccupied with the pursuit of financial security, particularly given the prevalent “money culture” in Kenya. Having multiple sources of income is highly valued by many, and those seeking to increase their revenue often dream of achieving this. With more young people taking on entrepreneurial roles and becoming adept at leveraging the internet and social media to run efficient and convenient businesses, it’s becoming increasingly clear that today’s youth are more financially empowered than previous generations. Given the developments, one might wonder…