BY.PHILES ISABOKE
Safaricom has increased data bundle value under “Pata More” campaign. Sh20 daily bundle now gives 250MB instead of 150MB, Sh99 bundle now 1.5GB instead of 1GB, and Sh1,000 monthly package now 21.5GB more than double previous 10GB.
This is Safaricom avoiding price wars but increasing value to compete with Airtel which has been competing with larger bundles.
BY.PHILES ISABOKE
Central Bank of Kenya wants to slash and cap transaction fees for M-Pesa and Airtel Money. In its National Financial Inclusion Strategy, CBK wants average cost per transaction reduced from current Sh23 to Sh10 by 2028. b16c
CBK says mobile money access rose from 27% in 2006 to 82.3% in 2024 but growth is plateauing due to high costs. Safaricom currently charges Sh13 for Sh501-1000 transfer and Sh108 for Sh50k-250k.
Teachers Service Commission has restarted the search for a substantive CEO after High Court ordered fresh recruitment. In an advert dated Sept 29, TSC invited qualified Kenyans to apply by Oct 30. 623e
Court found previous process failed to comply with TSC’s own procedures. TSC has been without substantive CEO since Nancy Macharia retired in June 2025; Evaleen Mitei has been acting. 623e
BY. PHILES ISABOKE
Kenya has officially signed the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) Charter on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, becoming a Signatory Member. 6740
CS William Kabogo signed it and handed over to DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya, witnessed by Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi. The charter will advance cooperation on digital transformation, responsible AI, digital policy and innovation. 6740
BY.PHILES ISABOKE
A historic shipment of 40,000 metric tonnes of refined petroleum for Rwanda has arrived at Mombasa Port under a new Kenya-Rwanda deal. Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi says the pact could boost fuel transit volumes through the Northern Corridor tenfold. b38b
Kenya Ports Authority will handle berthing and Kenya Pipeline Company will provide transport and storage, giving Rwanda a seamless path from Mombasa to its market. d173
Chairman Erastus Ethekon said Kenyans in diaspora have constitutional right under Article 82(1)(e) to participate. Registration will be under Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration Phase II. 7f0b
Acting CEO Ruth Kulundu said proceedings suspended until further notice. This could affect preparations for 2027 elections as ballot papers require extensive production and verification. 5683
BY.PHILES ISABOKE
A Malindi Environment and Land Court has ordered construction to be paused on Aliko Dangote’s $16B oil refinery in Lamu. Judge Jane Onyango ordered status quo be maintained on land in Hindi/Manda Magogoni area until Oct 14 after 133 residents filed a petition saying it is their ancestral land with no resettlement plan and no environmental impact assessment. 07ba
Dangote Group says groundbreaking ceremony on Sept 30 will still go on, but site activities may be affected. Refinery is 700,000-barrels-per-day and aims to cut East Africa’s reliance on imported fuel
BY.PHILES ISABOKE
Global markets are jittery. Former US President Trump has refused to rule out strikes on Iran before the US midterms, sending oil to $89 a barrel. Iran’s president says cleric Mojtaba Khamenei survived two alleged US-Israel strikes and is “completely healthy.” Meanwhile, UAE and Egypt claim they warned Netanyahu before Oct 7. In Yemen, 4 Iranian drone experts were reported killed in Taiz. Analysts warn any strike could trigger a wider Middle East war.
By . philes isaboke
You no longer need a Sh.50,000 studio session. Kenyan Gen Z producers in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa are making hits using AI. Tools like Suno, Udio and Adobe Enhance are creating beats, writing Sheng lyrics, and cleaning vocals. Producer K-Beatz from Umoja made a hit in 2 hours on his phone. “AI is not killing creativity, it’s killing gatekeepers,” he says. But MCSK warns about copyright – who owns an AI song? The debate is hot in the industry.
BY . PHILES ISABOKE
Tragedy in Uttar Pradesh. At least 56 people have died after three days of relentless rain. 1,021 houses have collapsed, and rivers Ghagra, Rapti and Sharda are overflowing. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered immediate relief of Sh.10,000 per family and aerial survey of flooded districts. Schools remain closed in 15 districts. Farmers say paddy crops are destroyed. Rescue teams from NDRF are evacuating villages using boats.
BY. PHILES ISABOKE
The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya continued today with drama. India’s Anahat Singh (squash) and Ancy Sojan (long jump) won silver for India. For Kenya, eyes are on athletics – our 4x400m men’s team qualified fastest for tomorrow’s final, and Mary Moraa’s prodigy, 19-year-old Joyline Cheruiyot, won her 800m heat. “We came to show Africa is not just participating,” said coach Julius Kirwa. Finals are live on KBC at 4pm.
