KBC Channel 1

Author: Ronald Owili

  • TikTok: ByteDance accused of helping China spy on Hong Kong activists

    TikTok: ByteDance accused of helping China spy on Hong Kong activists

    TikTok’s owner ByteDance has been accused of allowing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members to access the data of Hong Kong civil rights activists and protesters.

    Users who uploaded “protest-related content” were also identified and monitored, former ByteDance executive Yintao Yu alleges in a US court filing.

    The CCP members were also able to access US TikTok user data, Mr Yu says.

    A ByteDance spokesperson denied the claims, describing them as “baseless”.

    The allegations are contained in a San Francisco Superior Court filing made this week as part of a lawsuit brought by Mr Yu.

    In the filing, Mr Yu claimed that members of a CCP committee had access to a “superuser” credential, which was also known as “god user”, which allowed them to view all data collected by ByteDance.

    He also alleged that the committee members were not ByteDance employees but were physically present at the company’s offices in Beijing.

    This was common knowledge among senior executives, said Mr Yu, who for around a year from August 2017 was a head of engineering in the US for ByteDance.

    The filing also alleged that in 2018 the CCP committee members used their “god credential” to “identify and locate the Hong Kong protesters, civil rights activists, and supporters of the protests”.

    Hong Kong saw huge protests in 2014 – the so-called Umbrella movement – where people demanded the right to elect their own leader. After that, there were smaller demonstrations by civil rights activists. Much of this visible dissent has disappeared since Beijing cracked down with a draconian national security law after the anti-government 2019 protests.

    When contacted by the BBC, a ByteDance spokesperson strongly denied the allegations: “We plan to vigorously oppose what we believe are baseless claims and allegations in this complaint.”

    They also said that Mr Yu was employed by the company for less than a year and in that time worked worked on a now-discontinued app called Flipagram.

    “It’s curious that Mr Yu has never raised these allegations in the five years since his employment for Flipagram was terminated in July 2018. His actions are clearly intended to garner media attention,” the ByteDance spokesperson added.

    Mr Yu’s claims come as TikTok is under intense scrutiny around the world.

    In March, TikTok’s chief executive Shou Zi Chew faced four-and-a-half hours of questioning at a US congressional hearing.

    Mr Chew was quizzed by both Democrats and Republicans over the app’s data security and privacy practices, and its alleged ties to Beijing.

    A spokesperson for TikTok said afterwards that the politicians were “grandstanding”.

    In May, Montana became the first US state to pass a sweeping ban on the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform.

    The ban is due to take effect in January 2024. It will make it illegal for app stores to offer TikTok, but does not ban people who already have TikTok from using it.

    TikTok has sued to block Montana from imposing the ban, saying it conflicts with US free speech rights. Montana, which has a population of just over one million, banned the app on government devices last December.

    TikTok says it has 150m American users. Although the app’s user base has expanded in recent years, it is still most popular with teenagers and users in their 20s.

    Story by BBC

  • Jubilee Insurance says it’s on course to be net zero firm by 2030

    Jubilee Insurance says it’s on course to be net zero firm by 2030

    Jubilee Insurance’s ambition to become a carbon neutral firm within seven years in on course according to the group Chairman Nizar Juma.

    The insurer says it is currently deploying various initiatives within the organization in order to become Net Zero by 2030.

    Juma says the firm has taken significant steps to integrate environmental sustainability into its business practices, including the promotion of eco-friendly policies, adoption of paperless operations and the exploration of innovative solutions to reduce environmental degradation.

    “Our company will continue to mitigate the impact of our operations on the environment while investing in sustainable practices and technologies to achieve our goals,’ said Juma.

    Similarly, the insurer has partnered with One Way to collect and recycle all its plastic waste besides going paperless by introducing digital processes to reduce paper waste in its operations.

    Juma says to advance e-waste management, the company is eliminating idling computers from its premises.

    “We believe that our individual and corporate commitment towards safeguarding the planet will trigger change and pave the way for a more sustainable future,” added Juma.

    The insurer has undertaken a green approach in its new offices in Upper Hill which is 100pc solar powered advancing sustainable energy use with low environmental impact.

    Jubilee Insurance participated in the global commemoration of the World Environment Day, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and encouraging action towards environmental conservation.

    As part of the celebration event, staff members signed a creed that is aligned to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) principles and values of the Net Zero Agenda that include responsible stewardship, sustainable support, well-being of the vulnerable, proactive leadership, increasing impact and effecting societal transformation as their commitment to do their part to protect the environment.

  • LemFi rides on competitive pricing as it begins operations in Kenya

    LemFi rides on competitive pricing as it begins operations in Kenya

    Cross-border payment solution provider, LemFi, has commenced operations in Kenya banking on its competitive pricing model to capture the diaspora remittances service market.

    Speaking during the launch, LemFi Country Manager Kakea Mbacha said the financial technology firm is targeting to revolutionize international money transfer market with innovative solutions at zero fees.

    The firm is targeting to rope in more than 500,000 Kenyans living in United States, United Kingdom and Canada to its platform before expanding operations into other key source markets for Kenya’s remittance inflows.

    “We are bringing in the market the zero transaction fees. None of our competitors in the market provide that. Also the instant payment in 2-3 minutes is very key to us. So that gives us an upper advantage,” said Kakea Mbacha, LemFi Country Manager.

    According to 2021 Diapora Remittances Survey by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), mobile money operators handle the largest share of inflows at 32pc, followed by money transfer companies at 31, banks 22pc, while those who personally carry their remittances when travelling and those who use friends and relatives account for 6 and 4pc respectively.

    Using LemiFi app, customers will be able to register their accounts from where they will be able to send funds directly into bank and mobile money accounts at no charges.

    Additionally, the app also supports the use of multiple currencies through various wallets that customers can open and deposit money in different accounts.

    Mbacha says LemFi app also provides for a Kenya shillings wallet setup which customers can open and fund their accounts via mobile money with the platform also offering competitive foreign exchange platform for US dollar, sterling pound and Canadian dollar.

    “Every time the rate changes on our platform, you get a notification. That is actually the fastest way to actually notify you about the exchange rate,” added Mbacha.

    The fintech currently has operations in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana with plans to introduce remittance services in South Africa.

    For last mile transactions, LemFi has partnered with Nairobi-based Pesa Swap, a local online and mobile payment solutions with operations in the UK to provide locally relevant and alternative payment methods for global, regional and local merchants.

    “We need to empower our people to access money transfer services at affordable rates so that they can keep the cash flowing back home,” added Chris Munyasya, Pesa Swap Chief Executive Officer.

    Latest data from CBK indicate that total inflows in April 2023 stood at Ksh 44 billion with inflows from US and Canada amounting to Ksh 25.9 billion, Europe 7.4 billion and the rest of the world Ksh 10.9 billion.

    The cumulative inflows for the 12 months to April totalled Ksh 549.9 billion up 0.4pc from Ksh 547.6 billion netted over the same period in 2022.

  • Vision Pro: Apple’s new augmented reality headset unveiled

    Vision Pro: Apple’s new augmented reality headset unveiled

    Apple has unveiled a much-anticipated augmented reality headset, Apple Vision Pro, in its first major hardware launch for almost a decade.

    Apple CEO Tim Cook said the new headset “seamlessly blends the real world and the virtual world”.

    The tech firm also announced its latest iPhone operating system, as well as updates to MacBook Air.

    The headset has a two-hour battery life, costs $3,499 (£2,849) and will be released early next year in the US.

    The cost is considerably more than virtual reality headsets currently on the market. Last week Meta announced its Quest – which costs $449.

    Apple said little about generative artificial intelligence – the buzzy technology that is the talk of Silicon Valley.

    The company’s share price fell slightly during the announcement, made at a developer’s conference at Apple Park, the company’s headquarters, in Cupertino, California.

    The BBC is among the media outlets at the event, but has yet to try out the new device.

    ‘Ski goggles’
    Apple Vision Pro looks different to similar headsets on the market – and is more reminiscent of a pair of ski goggles than a virtual reality headset.

    Apple used the phrase “augmented reality” to describe what the new device does.

    Augmented reality, also known as mixed reality, superimposes virtual objects in the world around us – enabling us to mix reality with virtual reality by looking through a screen.

    Users can access apps, watch movies, and write documents in a virtual world. But so far, there is little evidence of a big market for this kind of wearable tech.

    Hartley Charlton, senior editor of MacRumors, was unsure how much the headset would appeal to the general public.

    “It won’t appeal to mainstream consumers at first on account of its extremely high price point and immediate shortcomings as a first-generation device,” he said, “such as its separate wired battery pack.”

    But he said Apple has a track record of “overcoming scepticism” about new devices, and has historically encouraged people to “part with their cash to add a new gadget to their repertoire”.

    In his sales pitch, Mr Cook said the headset allows users to “see, hear and interact with digital content just like it’s in your physical space”.

    It is controlled by using a combination of your hands, eyes and voice – such as tapping your fingers together to select, and flicking them to scroll.

    The announcement comes a week after Meta and Lenovo announced new iterations of their pre-existing virtual-reality headsets, that do not superimpose objects onto a view of the real world.

    Meta has also invested heavily in mixed reality – but right now the sector is struggling.

    The headset market saw a 54% drop in global sales last year, according to the International Data Corporation.

    Apple’s last major hardware release was for the Apple Watch device in 2015.

    Thomas Husson, of Forrester Research, told BBC News it may take time for Apple’s new headset to take off.

    “The overall AR/VR space has been a bit overhyped over the past few years with the metaverse and that kind of experience,” he said. “That’s the reason why I think it will take a bit more time.

    “Having said that, if I told you 10-15 years ago that people would be ready to pay almost $2,000 for a mobile phone, I don’t think many people would have said they would be willing to pay that.”

    iOS 17
    Aside from the Vision Pro announcement, Apple also unveiled iOS17, the latest version of its iPhone operating system.

    Updates include “contact posters” – a picture or image of yourself that will appear on a person’s phone when you call them – and “live voicemail” – which provides a real-time transcription of an answerphone message being left to you.

    This transcription will also apply to audio messages left using Apple Messages.

    And Apple has introduced a system called Check-In – which will automatically tell a friend or family member when you’ve arrived home.

    If your journey is substantially delayed, it has the power to tell others that you have not made it home safely yet.

    The new operating system will be available in Autumn 2023.

    Story by BBC

  • Murungi calls for investment in oil production to tap Ksh 1T revenue

    Murungi calls for investment in oil production to tap Ksh 1T revenue

    National Oil Corporation of Kenya Chairman Kiraitu Murungi is calling on the government to intensify investments in oil production in order to access potential revenue estimated a Ksh 1.1 trillion.

    Murungi who served as energy minister when Kenya struck its first oil deposits in the Lokichar Basin in 2012 urged President William Ruto to increase investments into the production of the hydrocarbon which he says is the answer to the current debt crisis.

    According to Murungi, Kenya stands to earn at least Ksh 1.1 trillion($8 billion) from the Lokichar Basin alone, money he says is sufficient to cut borrowing and lift millions of Kenyans out of poverty.

    “Experts tell us that the Lokichar field asset is quantified at 472 million barrels recoverable. With the State’s carried interest of 22.5pc share in the production sharing contract, the country stands to earn $8 billion at the current rate of $80 a barrel. We can do a lot with this kind of money,” said Murungi.

    This comes as Tullow Oil announced last month that it would be assuming full control of Project Oil Kenya Development, following the exit of two joint venture partners, Africa Oil Corp and Total Energies in blocks 10BB,13T and 10BA in the South Lokichar Basin.

    “Project Oil Kenya is a low-cost development project that has the potential to unlock material value. Prospective strategic partners remain engaged, and detailed farm-out discussions continue with a number of companies,” said Madhan Srinivasan, Tullow Kenya BV Managing Director.

    Tullow Oil is currently waiting for the approval of the Field Development Plan (FDP) submitted to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), in March2023.

    Kenya’s oil production has fallen behind schedule more than a decade after discovery, a factor blamed on lengthy approval processes and financing for the capital intensive project.

    “Kenya’s upstream oil and gas sector has stagnated because of lack of passion, official neglect and lack of investment by the previous government. We cannot leave development and exploitation of the oil reserves in Lokichar to Tullow alone. As NOC we shall seek government support so that we can accelerate production and generate resources to pull our people out of debt and poverty,” he added.

    Murungi was speaking in Nairobi when he mets delegates from nine countries attending the 8th African Petroleum Data Management forum in Mombasa County.

    Countries participating in the conference are Norway, Somalia, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Angola, Mozambique, Ghana and South Africa and Kenya.

  • PrideInn promises sustainability in marking World Environment Day

    PrideInn promises sustainability in marking World Environment Day

    PrideInn Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre say it will continue with efforts to eradicate plastic use in its facilities as it marked the World Environment Day.

    The hotel chain joined hands with Machakos County government, the National Environment Management Authority, and various stakeholders to retaliate commitment to environmental conservation.

    Speaking during a tree planting and clean up exercises in Machakos County, PrideInn General Manager Andrew Makau said such activities are significant in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable practices.

    “Cleaning up the market and planting trees are essential strategies for addressing plastic pollution and catering to the environment. These activities help remove plastic waste, prevent pollution, and restore ecosystems,’ said Makau.

    To beat plastic pollution within its facilities, Makau revealed that hotels across PrideInn Hotels, Resorts and Camps continue to phase out the use of plastic water bottles in efforts aimed at promoting the environment and protecting the marine eco-system.

    “The activities also improve water quality, raise awareness, mitigate climate change, and create sustainable livelihoods. By taking collective action, we can make significant progress in protecting our environment and ensuring a more sustainable future,” he added.

    It is estimated that there are currently between 75 and 199 million tonnes of plastic present in oceans worldwide.

  • Dairy board looks to new law to boost milk production

    Dairy board looks to new law to boost milk production

    The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has said that the country needs a strong dairy regulatory framework at the national and county levels to ensure milk and milk products comply with quality and safety requirements.

    The regulator has indicated this will also protect consumers, enhance private sector participation, boost investment in the dairy industry and promote trade in milk and milk products, not just in Kenya, but in the external markets as well.

    Speaking in Nakuru after public participation on the Draft Dairy Industry Bill, 2023, KDB Managing Director Dr. Margaret Kibogy called for aligning of dairy regulations to international standards for agricultural trade arrangements as enshrined under World Trade Organization, which were ratified in 1995.

    Dr Kibogy observed that the current legislation regulating the dairy subsector enacted in 1958 was not in harmony with modern farming practices and technological advancements and recognized cow milk only.

    The Draft Dairy Industry Bill, 2023 now also gives recognition to sheep, goat and camel milk.

    She said the proposed law aims at improving the productivity and competitiveness of dairy products, increasing domestic consumption of milk and milk products, transforming the dairy industry into a net exporter to the regional and global markets, and re-orienting milk processing

    The proposed bill, she added, was also geared towards encouraging locals to venture into commercial dairy farming.

    The bill seeks to establish a legal backing for the dairy value-addition chain, and will also give way to the establishing of a corporation to coordinate activities in the sector.

    Dr Kibogy stated that milk which is primarily produced by smallholder dairy farmers under three main production systems of zero grazing, semi-zero grazing, and open grazing — is in high demand mainly due to population growth, increasing urbanization, and rising incomes.

    To meet this high demand, the government has given priority to the industry in national strategic plans such as the Dairy Master Plan to guide the development of the dairy sector up to 2030.

    She explained that the sanitary and phytosanitary standards agreement relates to regulations around labeling requirements, nutrition claims and concerns, quality and packaging regulations.

    If the bill is passed into law, it will also address microbiological contamination of milk, allowable veterinary drug residues, permitted food additives and packaging requirements.

    She added, “There is need to safeguard food safety and promote quality assurance to consumers here and beyond borders. It is with this in mind that the Bill was drafted with the objective of strengthening the dairy regulatory framework for the benefit of dairy business operators, consumers, and the public at large.”

    Dr Kibogy noted that without adequate controls, milk and milk products can be a source of microorganisms which cause serious diseases such as brucellosis, tuberculosis and cholera.

    She expressed optimism about the industry’s expansion given that more people, especially young Kenyans, are taking up the business.

    “Kenya’s dairy industry has been growing at an estimated rate of five per cent annually with milk production currently at 5.2 billion litres a year.

    Kibogy said about 1.8 million smallholder farmers have their livelihood pegged on dairy production.

    “Kenya’s dairy sector contributes 4pc, 12pc and 44pc of the national, agriculture and livestock GDP respectively,” she said.

    According to the 2020 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Food Balance Sheet report, the consumption of milk and its related products had the highest per capita consumption (93.3 kilos) in Kenya, followed by maize (69.5kg), wheat (41.3kg) and vegetables (32.6kg)

    Livestock Production Acting Director, Nakuru County, Virginia Ngunjiri, said the devolved unit had set 11 bulking and chilling plants and organized farmers into cooperatives in a move intended to raise the financial capability of farmers and safeguard milk for the market.

    She noted that the absence of adequate machinery had led to an increase of milk hawking with some informal traders adulterating their milk with substances not suitable for human consumption.

    “As a county we have been promoting the chilling of milk so that the farmers are able to bulk chill to reduce the post-harvest losses to the farmers,” said Ngunjiri.

    According to Ngunjiri, new milk handling technologies have already been launched across the county to boost preservation and bulking of milk thus boosting farmers’ profits.

    The cooling plants, she added, also help dairy farmers to store their milk and sell it to processors at a good price and at their convenience.

  • Oil prices rise as Saudi Arabia pledges output cuts

    Oil prices rise as Saudi Arabia pledges output cuts

    Oil prices have risen after Saudi Arabia said it would make cuts of a million barrels per day (bpd) in July.

    Other members of Opec+, a group of oil-producing countries, also agreed to continued cuts in production in an attempt to shore up flagging prices.

    Opec+ accounts for around 40% of the world’s crude oil and its decisions can have a major impact on oil prices.

    In Asia trade on Monday, Brent crude oil rose by as much as 2.4% before settling at around $77 a barrel.

    Opec+ said production targets would drop by a further 1.4 million bpd from 2024.

    The seven hour-long meeting on Sunday of the oil-rich nations came against a backdrop of falling energy prices.

    Oil prices soared when Russia invaded Ukraine last year, but are now back at levels seen before the conflict began.

    In October last year Opec+, a formulation which refers to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, agreed to cut production by two million bpd, about 2% of global demand.

    In April this year the group agreed to a further cuts, which were due to last to the end of this year. But Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Sunday’s talks led to “the extension of the deal until the end of 2024”.

    On Sunday, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that his country’s cut of one million bpd could be extended beyond July if needed. “This is a Saudi lollipop,” he said, in what is seen as a bid to stabilise the market.

    Oil producers are grappling with falling prices and high market volatility amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    The West has accused Opec of manipulating prices and undermining the global economy through high energy costs, according to Reuters. It has also accused the group of siding with Russia despite sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.

    In response, Opec insiders have said the West’s monetary policy over the last decade has driven inflation and forced oil-producing nations to act to maintain the value of their main export.

    Story by BBC

  • Affordable housing programme is of urgency, Hinga says

    Affordable housing programme is of urgency, Hinga says

    Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga has said the affordable housing programme being implemented by the government is key in addressing acute housing deficit facing Kenya’s urban population.

    While addressing the 9th Global Affordable Housing Conference in Washington DC organized by the World Bank, Hinga said 70pct of the country’s ballooning urban population are unable to build, purchase or get a mortgage to own homes.

    Nairobi for instance has 90pc of the population unable to to own a house, according to Hinga.

    PS Hinga said it is only in the rural areas that the majority of Kenyans occupy their own houses with 70pc home ownership.

    While debate on the proposed 3pc contribution by employees with employers matching the contribution, Hinga said the Housing Fund will make home ownership affordable through its National Tenant Purchase Scheme.

    The cumulative monthly contributions are not supposed to exceed Sh5000.

    “The Housing Fund will mobilize Capital, offer certainty of sales in form of an off-take undertaking to developers and provide accessible finance for home buyers through a National Tenant Purchase Scheme,” said Hinga.

    The Tenant Purchase Scheme and the accompanying policies are backed to reduce the unit price of apartments from the normal market rate of Ksh 11 million to an average of Ksh 3 million.

    While contributions are mandatory for the formally employed, the Government encourages those who are in the informal sector to make voluntary contributions.

    The fund is also expected to boost mortgage subscription in the country which is at a paltry 27,000.

    The State also provides land for the projects free of charge. So far, 42 Counties have signed agreements to avail land for the Affordable Housing Programme.

    The contributions are meant to accumulate and serve as a 10 percent deposit before a contributor can become eligible to get a house through the scheme.

    Those who fail to qualify will be refunded their money while contributors who do not want to purchase a house can withdraw their savings after seven years.

    He said the programme has immense potential to promote economic recovery because it is linked to the Jua Kali and MSMEs.

    PS Hinga added that the Government is rolling out housing projects all across the country to bridge the annual housing deficit of 250,000.

  • Sugar prices rise in April as production shrinks 36pc

    Sugar prices rise in April as production shrinks 36pc

    Kenya recorded a 36pc drop in locally produced sugar in the month of April leading to a marginal increase in retail prices of the commodity.

    The monthly data from the Sugar Directorate indicates that total sugar bagged in April 2023 declined to 31,970 metric tonnes (MT) from a total of 49,761 MT recorded in March as millers in the country suffered low supplies during the offseason.

    “Total sugarcane milled by all sugar factories dropped to 405,389 MT in April 2023, down from 546,150 MT in March and 716,274 MT in February 2023. Sugar made therefore also decreased to 32,729 MT from 49,372 MT in March,” stated a monthly newsletter by the directorate.

    The reduced local production coupled with low imports during the period under review meant consumers had to pay more for the commodity as a kilogram shot up 1.9pc as sales also decreased to 36,182 MT from 50,752 MT in March.

    “The wholesale sugar prices for April 2023 averaged Ksh 7,210 per 50kg bag, up 1pc from Ksh 7,171 per 50kg bag in the previous month. The retail sugar prices in April 2023 averaged Ksh 160 per kilo up from Ksh 157 per kilo in March and Ksh 147 per kilo in February,” said the Sugar Directorate.

    The directorate further says total closing stocks held by all factories as at the end of April this year dropped to 8,023 MT from 10,844 MT in March, while the weighted ex-factory price averaged Ksh 7,054 per 50kg bag, up 6pc from Ksh 6,659 per 50kg bag and Ksh 5,432 per 50kg bag in February 2023.

    In April, cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) Mombasa landed values for imported white refined sugar averaged Ksh 79,571 per tonne compared to Ksh 68,656 per tonne for mill white/brown sugar.

    White Sugar Price Index averaged $675.69 per tonne, up from $586.92 per tonne in March and $560.46 per tonne in February.