WHAT ARE KENYANS LISTENING TO SPOTIFY LAUNCHES REPORT

Made for Kenya: Six Months Later, What are Kenyans Listening to on Spotify

• Niko Sawa is the top streamed song by Kenyans on Spotify
• Sauti Sol is the top streamed Kenyan music group by Kenyans
• Gengetone in the top 10 most streamed playlist by Kenyans

Since launch Kenyans have gravitated towards popular local and global sounds on Spotify. Allowing for flavours that showcase local talent and unique genres that bring the East African country sounds to the world. 

During its Made for Kenya event today, Spotify revealed that though Kenyans are listening to local genres like Gengetone, there is also huge interest in global artists such as Drake, Pop Smoke and The Weeknd. The Gengetone musical wave is not only gaining momentum amongst creators and listeners but building in popularity with its youthful urban sound. This is testament to Kenya’s musical influence across Africa, while pioneering a culture that varies in talent from a new and different sound.

Local artists making the list for top streamed artists by Kenyans include industry veteran Sauti Soland R&B/Afropop artist  Nviiri The Storyteller.

To mark six months since launch, Spotify looked at the top streamed tracks, artists and playlists by Kenyans. With fans from Nairobi to Edloret and Mombasa to Nakuru streaming music via Spotify, it’s not surprising that Bien and Nviiri The Storyteller’s smash hit ‘Niko Sawa’ takes the top spot as the most streamed track by Kenyans in the past six months. 

“Spotify has always celebrated Africa’s abundance of talent and diversity. Now with Spotify’s presence across Africa, we will continue to use the power of the platform to amplify African creators  to a global audience. What we are seeing come out of Kenya is that the Gengetone genre, which draws sonic influences from dancehall, reggaeton and Genge, is gaining popularity. This youth-driven sound of Kenya’s streets is growing and our flagship Gengetone Fire playlist shows up in the top 10 most streamed playlists on Spotify.”  says Phiona Okumu, Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa

Spotify continues to drive initiatives that support African creators including the promotion of key curated, flagship playlists such as African Heat, Made in Kenya, RADAR Africa, and most recently, Gengetone Fire, which has further driven the discovery and celebration of African influence.  Spotify also houses the Afrohub platform that promotes and brings to the surface culturally diverse music to users around the world. 

Earlier this month, gengetone artist Sylvia Saru, popularly known as Ssaru, was introduced as the latest artist to join its EQUAL Music Program. EQUAL is Spotify’s global initiative to cultivate gender equality in music and support female artists and podcast creators both locally and internationally.

The data also shows that big cities are dominating streaming habits with those streaming the most being in Nairobi and Mombasa. When it comes to genres beloved by streamers, Kenyans have a huge appetite for pop, trap, rap and Southern hip hop with some Azontobeats and dance pop mixed in.

The expansion of Premium Mini in Kenya also ensures Kenyans have greater access to the world’s largest audio streaming platform. The new bite-sized plan offers flexibility to suit anyone’s on-demand listening habits with weekly subscription. Spotify’s latest Premium Mini offering hits the sweet spot – giving listeners a subset of their favorite Premium features such as the full on-demand and ad-free music and podcast listening, while having it available at a lower price by paying for it only when they need it.

As Spotify continues to give listeners across the continent streaming access to the best African and international audio continent, it will continue to drive education around Spotify for Artists, a powerful free tool that artists are encouraged to make use of to better understand and build their audience and gain insight on how to best promote themselves. This, together with the expertise of Spotify’s music team and all the platform’s initiatives, will ensure that Spotify remains an instrumental vehicle for African creators looking to feature on a global stage.

Top 10 most streamed tracks in Kenya

1. Niko Sawa
2. MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
3. Levitating (feat. DaBaby)
4. Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon)
5. RAPSTAR
6. Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)
7. Up
8. Heartbreak Anniversary
9. Leave The Door Open
10. Astronaut In The Ocean

Top 10 most streamed artists in Kenya

1. Drake
2. Sauti Sol
3. Justin Bieber
4. Pop Smoke
5. Juice WRLD
6. Burna Boy
7. The Weeknd
8. DaBaby
9. J. Cole
10. Travis Scott

Top 10 most streamed playlists in Kenya

1. Today’s Top Hits
2. RapCaviar
3. African Heat
4. Made In Kenya
5. Mood Booster
6. Mega Hit Mix
7. Hot Hits Kenya
8. Soft Pop Hits
9. Top Gaming Tracks
10. Gengetone Fire

Top 10 cities Kenyans are streaming from

1. Nairobi
2. Mombasa
3. Nakuru
4. Eldoret
5. Kisumu
6. Thika
7. Nyeri
8. Meru
9. Kiambu
10. Mandera

How to Maximize Your AC Efficiency at Home or in the Office

Nairobi, August 31 2021 – Today, energy efficiency is a very popular topic. And, with good reason. The more energy efficient a system or appliance is the more money that is saved. And, since heating and cooling systems make up the largest portion of our energy bills, finding extra ways to keep it running efficiently goes a long way in saving you a lot of costs.

Of course, your AC unit might be performing the way you expect it to, but it still uses energy, and that can get costly if it’s operating most of the time. The good news is, there are a few ways you can maximize your efficiency, making it so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard.

Not only does this ensure better temperature controls in your home or office, but also results in lower electricity bills.

Here are ways you can maximize the use of your AC unit.

1. Keep the Room Temperature Stable

Blasting your AC to pump cold air out on its lowest level ever is no way to effectively use it. Despite the temperature state of your room or office, set your unit at a stable temperature setting, usually between 18 and 21 degrees. This will keep your home comfortable and your AC won’t need so many maintenance calls.

2. Use Timers

Use the auto-on/off function to keep your air conditioner running. This will turn it on when you arrive home or in the office, and off when you leave. It is a good way of ensuring that the unit only works when people are around. Leaving it running will only eat into your electricity bills.

3. Only Use it When Needed

Apart from using the timer to turn it on and off, remember to only use the AC when it is absolutely necessary. It’s easy to get used to the quick relief it provides, but if you’re concerned with using it efficiently then it’s certainly worth assessing whether or not you need to switch it on.

4. Don’t Use it in Space You Aren’t Using

It’s pointless to use your air conditioner when no one is present to enjoy it, so make sure to turn it off when members of your household are using other areas of your home. When you’re busy, it’s easy to overlook the fact that cooling an empty space is extremely inefficient.

5. Close Doors

When doors and windows are closed, your AC unit might work harder than it needs to be. So, ensure that you shut the doors so that it doesn’t expend too much energy. Overall, your unit will be much more efficient if you close off the room in which it is operating so that it is only working to keep that specific room cool, rather than the entire house.

6. Keep the Filters Clean

Maintain your air conditioner’s filters clean to keep it in peak shape. It is ideal to clean your filters at least once a month, or every two weeks. To do this, you will need to unplug your air conditioner and vacuum or wash the filters in soapy water. Replace the filters and turn the unit back on once they are completely dry.

7. Unblock and Vacuum Your Vents

One of the best ways to boost the efficiency of your air conditioner is to keep the vents free from debris. Walk around your premises and check the vents. If they are dirty, clogged, or need replacement, ensure that you clean and or change them.

If you want to keep your system’s airflow consistent, this is a must. Your vents may be covered by blinds, carpets, toys, or furniture even though you clean and vacuum regularly.

8. Buy Energy Efficient AC

Installing an air conditioner is a significant investment in your home, and you’ll want to get it right the first time. Rather than installing any old unit, choose an energy-efficient model to get the most bang for your buck. HRV is pleased to represent Panasonic air conditioning throughout the United States, owing to its energy efficiency and high-quality hardware.

9. Buy the Right Size

It can be difficult to decide whether to buy a large or small air conditioner, but it’s crucial to get it right. An air conditioner that’s too tiny for the room in which it’s installed will be inefficient. As a result, seek guidance in determining the right size of an air conditioner to get the best out of it.

10.  Current technology – Inverter compressor

Cooling demands vary from month to month depending on ambient temperature, occupancy and location. Hence our air conditioners should be able to adjust its cooling capacity based on the above conditions. This is possibly with Inverter technology that adjusts the cooling load from zero to maximum based on actual requirements. This technology has been well mastered by LG Electronics AC systems and with other incorporated features makes it most energy efficient air conditioner in the Market

That said, if you are a worrywart and need a system that solves most of your energy problems, try the new LG Ceiling-Mounted Cassette unit that comes with extra energy savings measures such as occupancy sensor, humidity sensor as well air purification kit for good indoor air quality. It is CAC certified and energy saving thanks to its optimal humidity and temperature control operation and human detection function.

BRITISH AMERICAN INSURANCE ANNOUNCES KSH647 MILLION HALF YEAR PROFIT BEFORE TAX FINANCIAL RESULTS.

• Investment income grew to Kshs 4.9 billion, representing a 35 per cent growth.

• The Group’s total assets stood at Kshs 146.9 billion, representing a 7.2 per cent growth.

Nairobi, August 31^st, 2021:  Financial services firm, Britam Holdings PLC has today posted a profit before tax of Kshs 647milion in its half year results for the period ending June 30^th, 2021.

This is a significant improvement compared to a loss before tax of Kshs 2.3 billion reported during a similar period last year.  

The improved performance is attributed to growth in premiums from new business and investment income from its broad investment portfolio. The firm also registered significant growth in investment income following re-allocation of its investment portfolio to increase yields.

Investment income during the period grew to Kshs 4.9 billion, representing a 35 per cent growth compared to a similar period last year.

The Group also realized growth in revenue from both its local and regional businesses. The regional businesses contributed 24 per cent of the Group’s gross earned premiums. The Group’s gross earned premiums and fund management fees were up 5.7 per cent to Kshs 14.9 billion.

Commenting on the results, Britam’s Group Managing Director, Tavaziva Madzinga said: “The Group remains optimistic of sustaining profitability in 2021 on the back of an improving operating environment and gains from our new transformative strategy. In the short term, we will however continue to pursue prudent cost management initiatives and   maintain a stable solvency position.”

Britam recently completed its transformation process which entailed creating a leaner,agile and more customer centric organization.

The transformation exercise is expected to accelerate delivery of its new strategic plan,  which focuses on preparing the firm for growth by organizing the business around delighting the customer; leveraging technology; turning around key cost drivers and optimizing the profile and returns of its investments.

Summary of key highlights:

In the six-month period, the Group has recorded:

• Strong growth in investment income which was up 35 percent to Kshs 4.9 billion.
• Gross earned premiums and fund management fees were up 5.7 per cent to Kshs 14.9 billion.
• Regional general insurance businesses recorded a 10 per cent growth and contributed 24 percent to the Group’s gross earned premiums which grew to Kshs 3.6 billion.

• Claims and policy holders’ benefits and expenses increased by 27.1 per cent to Kshs 11.7 billion as the business took measures to cushion customers from constraints occasioned by Covid-19.
• Growth in operating expenses by 25.8 per cent to Kshs 4.9 billion was attributed mainly to one-off items related to the ongoing transformation of the business as it implemented its strategy. Excluding the one-off items, the underlying operating expenses declined by 1.8 per cent.
• Profit after tax was up to Kshs 376.3 million from a loss after tax of Kshs 1.6 billion posted in the same period in 2020.
• Total comprehensive income improved to Kshs 1.2 billion from a comprehensive loss of Kshs 4.2 billion in the same period in 2020.

The business fundamentals remain strong with both the Group’s assets and shareholders’ funds growing in the period.

Outlook

The operating environment remains uncertain as the effects of Covid-19 on economic activities continues to impact individuals, businesses, and the economy in general. As the local and regional economies recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the firm is optimistic of improved performance across its local and regional businesses in the second half of 2021.

Dividend

The Board of Directors did not recommend the payment of an interim dividend for the six-month period to June 2021.

UGANDA CRANES ARRIVE IN KENYA FIR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Nairobi, Kenya 31st August 2021

Uganda crane has arrived in Kenya in Preparation for World Cup qualifiers Match .
Uganda crane arrived in Kenya on Tuesday 31-August 2021 in Preparation for World Cup qualifiers Match against Harambee Stars .

NCBA Group PLC reports a pre-tax profit of KES 7.4 billion in half-year results

August 30, 2021…The NCBA Group PLC has posted a profit before tax of KES 7.4 billion in its half-year results ending June 30^th 2021 which is a 90% increase compared to KES 3.9 billion reported during a similar period last year. The Group registered a profit after tax of KES 4.7 billion representing 77% growth up from KES 2.6 billion in half year 2020. Growth in profitability was attributed to increase in operating income by KES 2.8 billion, driven by higher customer activity and a decline in loan impairment charges by KES 1.7 billion.

Key Highlights

·       Asset base rose to KES 542 billion, 6% up year on year

·       Customer deposits closed at KES 437 billion, 12% up year on year

·       The Group disbursed KES 272 billion in digital loans, 16% increase year on year in line with its digitization agenda and its commitment to supporting small businesses and individual customers during this period

·       Operating income of KES 24.1 billion, up 13% up year on year

·       Operating profit before loan loss provisions  KES 13.3 billion, 16% up year on year

·       Loan impairments charges for the period KES 5.9 billion, 22% down year on year

·       Non Performing Loans coverage ratio increased to 68%, from 55% in the same period last year

·       Profit before tax of KES 7.4 billion, up 90% year on year

·       Profit after tax of KES 4.7 billion, up 77% year on year

·       Interim dividend of KES 0.75 per ordinary share held

Commenting on the results, NCBA Group Managing Director, John Gachora said the strong financial results are outcomes of a steadily improving economic environment and early outcomes of the Group’s focus on its strategic initiatives anchored on customer experience.

“Our operating results in the first half of the year demonstrates that the actions we have taken to strengthen and enhance the Group’s performance are bearing fruit. We have made a concerted effort to reduce the risk in our credit portfolio while balancing the need to support our customers during this COVID-19 period. Looking at our results, you will note that our loan impairment charges, which were a lag on performance last year, have greatly reduced. Over the last year, we have taken the bold step to restructure 35% of our credit portfolio and we have seen a positive outcome of those actions as 82% of that restructured portfolio is now performing. Our cost to income ratio has also improved, as we are realizing cost synergies from our merger. With this foundational phase largely behind us, we are very optimistic that NCBA is poised for continued strong bottom line growth in the near-term to medium term. ” said Mr. Gachora.

NCBA Chief Executive John Gachora during the announcement of the banking groups half year financial results

Mr. Gachora added that the group is on track to deliver on its strategic imperatives to enhance its branch network across the country and to digitally transform its operations and customer experiences.

“In addition to our investments in modernising our technology architecture in order to deliver better customer propositions and to structurally improve our operational efficiency and agility, we have embarked on a bold branch expansion strategy. Since the beginning of the year, we have opened branches in Nairobi JKIA, Mombasa Mwembe Tayari, Karatina, Nyeri, Kakamega and Ruiru. We plan to open nine more branches by the end of this year to ensure that we bring our services closer to existing and potential customers,” said Mr. Gachora.

During the first half of the year, NCBA signed several partnerships aimed at solidifying its strength in asset finance and growing its property finance business. On the asset finance front, the bank signed partnerships with Simba Corp, DT Dobie, Tata Africa Holdings, Isuzu East Africa to offer asset finance solutions to customers.

NCBA also signed partnerships with MySafe Vaults and Kenya Association of Manufacturers to offer safe deposit facilities to customers and to support the SME sector respectively. The Group has also collaborated with Strathmore University to support the Entrepreneurship Development Programme that seeks to empower entrepreneurs with the necessary skill sets to become profitable entrepreneurs.

This year, the bank also launched its NCBA Golf series and has so far sponsored 13 golf tournaments across the country attracting over 1700 golfers who have competed for slots in the grand finale event that is slated for early December 2021 at Karen Country Club. Additionally, the bank has also sponsored two Junior Golf Series Tournaments, with the top finishers qualifying to play at the Rome Classic in October this year, and the Big 5 tournament to be held in South Africa next year.

Business Outlook

Mr. Gachora said he anticipates that the ongoing roll-out of the vaccination program across the country will have a tremendous impact in enhancing the health of our communities and in restoring the state of our economy.

“This period has shown that we have an enduring and resilient business. Our customers are beginning to see real recovery and are investing in capital projects to grow their businesses. We remain focused on backing their ambitions as we collectively work to emerge from the impact of this pandemic,” said Gachora.

LIFE IS GOOD LAUNCHES THE METAVERSE EXPERIENCE FOR GAMING

Nairobi, August 30 2021 – Gaming also known as e-sports has become a huge industry globally expected to hit $1.4 billion in 2021. E-sports refers to competitive online video gaming involving humans and audience.

The phenomenal growth in e-sports was partly attributed to people spending more time indoors last year due to the health guidelines to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

In Kenya, the gaming craze has caught on with a growing number of talented Kenyan professional gamers who initially turned to gaming as a way of socializing.

Images courtesy AM Communications

ResearchandMarkets.com estimates that Africa’s gaming market will grow 12 percent by 2025 fueled by the huge youthful population. Demand for gaming consoles and other devices has been rising.

Gaming has become an integral part of the metaverse, the collection of alternate digital realities where people work, live, play and socialize in a shared virtual platform.

This is enabled by such innovative technologies as virtual reality and augmented reality to create what Michael Ball, a leading venture capitalist, terms “an extremely connected life.”

Gaming relies on immersion in a computer generated environment where scenes and objects appear real making the user feel an intrinsic part of the surroundings. The livestreamed gaming market has attracted companies like LG Electronics that believe that a virtual future is inevitable.

With LG UltraGear gaming monitors, metaverse fans can play in alternative worlds with the highest screen resolutions and widest color variety, thus enjoying a truly immersive experience as they socialize.

In June, LG announced the launch of the 32-inch UltraGear monitor 32GP850, expanding LG’s monitor range to 19 models.

LG gaming monitors offer an exquisite gaming display combined with the highest performing functions to be able to immerse yourself in the game like never before. The bright, hyper-realistic pictures captivate and the real-life precision will sweep you off your feet into another world. Seamless motion and imaging transforms you into a winner.

In other words, gaming is all about immersion and apart from LG UltraGear, LG’s OLED, QNED, Mini LED and NanoCell TVs also deliver that superb immersive experience. Thus you can become a gaming pro from the comfort of your home.

For example, LG OLED TVs have extremely low input lag with an incredible 1ms response time. Every move you input in the controller is displayed instantly on the screen giving you a better chance of winning. Game optimizer settings give greater control over picture and sound settings.

Working with industry leader NVIDIA, LG has added G-SYNC capability to its OLED TV for a superior gaming experience. You can play Google Stadia, a real time cloud gaming service, on your LG OLED TV without any additional gaming hardware.

With the powerful and lightweight LG Gram, you can indulge in your favorite video games from anywhere. LG’s devices simply take the virtual world of the metaverse to another level making it almost surreal and futuristic.

NOTIFY LOGISTICS TO SUPPORT 20,000 ENTREPRENEURS IN THE RETAIL SECTOR INDUSTRY IN KENYA.

Notify Logistics has set aside KES 45 Million for The Notify Entrepreneurs Program whose goal is to support at least 20,000 entrepreneurs in the retail sector over the next 1 year to start new businesses, recover from post covid disruption and grow their existing businesses.

NAIROBI – AUGUST 30, 2021:  Notify Logistics  a leading growth accelerator for small businesses in the retail sector in Kenya supporting more than 10,000 small businesses in the last 3 years has today announced the launch of the Notify Entrepreneurs Program. Notify recently raised KES45M in a seed round and the amount is being channeled to the Notify Entrepreneurs Program which is looking to reduce the cost of doing business for small businesses, therefore ensuring more entrepreneurial ventures come into existence and thrive in the retail sector. Entrepreneurs across the country are being encouraged to take advantage of the program as Notify has availed retail spaces in the Notify Malls located in Nairobi, Eldoret, Nakuru and Mombasa.

Since 2018, Notify Logistics has supported small businesses that are unable to afford a physical outlet on their own or hire someone else besides the founder/owner of the business. These ‘small-businesses’ employ about 60% of the total working population in Kenya thus playing a key role in the economy of the country.

“With this innovative business approach, we will reduce the cost of doing business for small businesses thereby ensuring more entrepreneurial ventures come into existence and thrive.”  Says Steve Waweru Nderitu, Notify Logistics CEO. “According to Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAMS) there are about 7.41 million MSMEs in Kenya, only 1.56 million are licensed whereas 5.85 million are unlicensed. This high number of unlicensed SMES indicates that this is the right time to create room for SMES to thrive and grow and Notify is ready to support these businesses”

Models Pose during the launch of the new fund to support entreprenuers. Images courtesy glasshousepr.co.ke

“The Notify Entrepreneurs Program will provide Affordable business space at an annual fee of KES20, 000 in any Notify Mall for 1 Year fully serviced with shop attendants and licenses. This program will also ensure Access to products from manufacturers has been made easier and efficient with manufacturers like Maser and given vendors access to the Luminarc brand products; among others both locally and internationally to make it easier for businesses in our Entrepreneurs Program to source for products to sell”, Stated Mr. Waweru CEO, Notify Logistics.

The program will also help entrepreneurs acquire capital byconnecting themto investors who are ready to invest in growing businesses. As a way to also motivate the entrepreneurs and mentor them, the program will incorporate a 10-week entrepreneurship training, this training will be moderated and led by successful entrepreneurs to inspire and empower new entrepreneurs and small business owners in Kenya.

The Notify Entrepreneurs program will ensure that small businesses recover from the ravages of the pandemic and unto success by ensuring that they have the infrastructure that in the past only big manufacturers could afford. In additional to the Affordable space, the businesses will have e-commerce support through the Notify e-commerce platform (www.notify.co.ke) where they will be able to also sell their products online thus reaching out to a wider clientele.

Notify Logistics has been supporting small businesses with photography services at all malls and providing marketing support as well, this will also be incorporated in the Notify Entrepreneurs program.  To successfully curb the logistics issues that most small businesses face, Notify Logistics has negotiated partnerships that will enable FREE countrywide delivery to clients who buy from any of the small businesses in any Notify Mall country wide and also from the e-commerce platform.

“We are thrilled to welcome entrepreneurs and small businesses from across the country to join the Notify Entrepreneurs Program as we accelerate them to the next level in their businesses “stated, Hellen Waweru, Co-founder at Notify Logistics.

Garissa Berlin FC Claim Victory In East Africa Under 19 Tournament

Nairobi, Kenya 30th August 2021

Various coaches and stakeholders react to the concluded tournament.

Garissa’s Berlin Claim Victory in East Africa Youth Tournament

Nairobi, Kenya 30th August 2021

Garissa a kenyan town less known for football has produced the winner of the annual east africa ligi ndogo cup after Berlin FC were crowned U19 champions.

The tourney that was held in Kisami’s, Kajiado county attracted only 46 teams from Kenya as Tanzania and Uganda were not able to register any teams due to the pandemic.

The safaricom sponsored tourney is aimed at developing football structure at a young age by nurturing early talent.

Men’s national team headcoach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee graced the finals as a guest of honor praised the organisers of the tournament for realising the importance of age group structures in development of football.

“Right now the federation has set up age structures from U13 to U19, that is the triangle of development and if followed through it will be the start of get top player who have gone throught the ranks.” Said the Harambee Star’s head coach.

COACHES ON PERFORMANCE OF TEAMS IN INAUGURAL WOMEN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

Nairobi, Kenya 29th August 2021

Day 2 of tournament

Bonface Nyamunyamu Vihiga Queen Assistant Coach, and Heye Birhanu Coasj Commercial Bank Ethiopia. Images Courtesy Kenn Okaka.