Kenyaleo.co.ke

Author: Kenyaleo Editorial Team

  • Second Lady Winner Scoops One Million Bob with SportPesa

    Second Lady Winner Scoops One Million Bob with SportPesa

    Homabay County is making waves in online gaming, especially for women, with the recent triumph of a 36-year-old mother of two. Irene Auko Maina, hailing from Kadongo, has secured the SportPesa Midweek Jackpot Bonus, a substantial sum of 1,101,920 shillings.

    Irene’s victory marks the beginning of the year’s Midweek Jackpot Bonus winners, as she successfully predicted the outcomes of 12 out of 13 matches.

    This achievement comes from another lady’s win in the Lake Region, where 24-year-old Christine Adhiambo Muganda clinched the Mega Jackpot Bonus with a remarkable prize of 2,335,528 shillings.

    Despite facing previous unsuccessful attempts at multi-bets, single-bets, and midweek jackpots, Irene persevered. Currently, the midweek jackpot stands at an impressive 22 million shillings. Irene shared her excitement.

    ‘’I participate a lot in the midweek jackpot as compared to any other jackpot, and this is not the end. I will continue betting.’’

    “I received the pleasant phone call as I was going home from the farm. This is a blessing because I was
    looking for capital to help me start rearing chicken, which I can now do,” said Irene.

    Accompanied by her husband, Irene expressed confidence in winning again shortly, urging punters to play responsibly and saying anyone, male or female, has the potential to win with SportPesa.

    Concurrently, the Midweek Jackpot Bonus was also won by 30-year-old Japhet Mwachi Ngare. The young lad from Kitengela in Kajiado is a self-employed youth who runs a barbershop.

    Looking ahead, the SportPesa Mega Jackpot is set to kick off on Saturday, January 27, at 10:00 p.m., boasting a staggering prize pool of Kshs 347,478,678. The mega jackpot promises hefty cash prizes for those who can make 12 correct predictions. The stage is set for an exciting round of predictions and potential life-changing wins.

  • Weetabix bets on millennials with Ksh 85M investment in plant and ‘kadogo’ pack

    Weetabix bets on millennials with Ksh 85M investment in plant and ‘kadogo’ pack

    FROM LEFT: Weetabix EA Head of Marketing Ascar Ogara, CEO Dominic Kimani, and Head of Sales Kennedy Muchiri celebrate the launch of the Fyatuka na Weetabix program

    Breakfast cereal manufacturer Weetabix East Africa is gunning for the millennial market in Kenya with an expansion in its local plant, brand, and distribution.

    The firm announced its latest inflation-beating strategy to grow its market share in Kenya, which mainly targets younger and school-going youth who, at nearly 13 million, comprise nearly a quarter of the country’s population.

    According to Dominic Kimani, Weetabix EA CEO, millennials matter, with research showing that there is an immense opportunity among younger people who are also changing breakfast cereal consumption habits.

    “For young people, the high nutrient density of breakfast cereals, especially those that are whole grain or high in cereal fiber, is an important source of key nutrients. Millennials consider cereal a meal that can be eaten at any time, expanding it into a snack outside breakfast,” said Kimani, adding that college-age millennials consider cereal a great snack.

    Furthermore, millennials want the ability to customize their food, creating an environment for countless innovative new ways to eat cereal and spawning a wide range of innovative products.

    To respond nimbly, Weetabix EA has renewed focus on the “kadogo” 37-gram pack version of its flagship WEETABIX breakfast cereal brand and the addition of two cornflakes variants named Fruity Fiesta and Fruit Frenzy to its portfolio.

    It also includes an investment of more than Ksh 85 million (USD 500,000) in upgrading the manufacturing facility located in Nairobi and pushing the brands into the market. Of this, about Ksh. 23 million has gone into the distribution channel, production process, and consumer rewards, while Ksh. 62 million (USD 400,000) has gone into upgrading the manufacturing capability and capacity over the past few months to support this venture.

    Speaking during the official kick-off of its national consumer campaign dubbed “Fyatuka na Weetabix,” Kimani pointed out that diversity was driving the need for a high degree of differentiation to meet a wide range of consumer tastes and preferences.

    Additionally, health consciousness was also growing, with consumers seeking natural, healthy, and affordable products across the region. This, he stated, calls for a need to evolve with the times and invest in production improvements to optimize output and still deliver the right product to consumers at an affordable price.

    He noted that the current economic times have put a strain on overall breakfast consumption in Kenya, with the new initiative designed to change this trajectory while at the same time bringing value to consumers as they seek to enjoy healthy choices.

  • Watu and Spiro announce partnership to improve access to affordable financing for electric motorcycles

    Watu and Spiro announce partnership to improve access to affordable financing for electric motorcycles

    Asset financing company Watu Credit (Watu) and Spiro, a pioneer in sustainable urban mobility solutions, have announced a partnership to improve access to affordable financing for electric motorbikes in Kenya.

    Spiro has set up a headquarters in Mombasa and has the largest electric two-wheeler fleet in Africa, with over 10,000 bikes deployed in Kenya, Benin, Togo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

    Speaking during the announcement, Erick Massawe, Kenya Country Manager, Watu said: “Through this partnership, we will leverage our dealership network to make Spiro electric bikes accessible to customers through affordable financing starting in Mombasa. We plan to further expand across a network of over 300 dealers countrywide, expanding the EV market in Kenya.”

    Spiro started its operations in Mombasa last year, following a high-level launch event with President William Ruto.

    ‘’Our motorbikes have been very well received in Mombasa, and the demand has exceeded expectations,’’ says Mr. Kshitij Sharma, Managing Director, Spiro Kenya. ‘’Our bikes are popular not only due to the alternative solution we offer as fuel prices go higher but also because of the work we have put into research and development to make sure they are relevant to the African market. The bikes are environmentally friendly and require minimal maintenance, which makes them very popular with riders as they try to minimize the costs of running their two-wheeled vehicles.’’

    The firm has established a network of automated battery swap stations in Mombasa and is in the process of doing the same in Nairobi to meet the anticipated demand for affordable electric bikes. The initial cash retail price of the Spiro EV motorcycle will be Kshs 195,000 and Ksh 196,700 for customers who will need Watu to manage logbook transfers for ownership.

    For those buying on credit, a Kshs 20,000 down payment is required, with the final cost of the asset being determined by the loan payment timeframe.

    “Our partnership with Watu will ensure that we enable riders to access the motorbikes at an affordable rate, and that way we will both contribute to supporting the government’s goal of transforming the transport sector with clean and affordable mobility. Partnering with them ensures that all riders can pay a daily fee similar to the cost of financing a petrol motorbike.,” Mr. Sharma added.

    The partnership with Watu will ensure that potential buyers of Spiro electric bikes have quick access to a flexible financing solution that makes owning an electric motorbike more accessible. This approach tackles the financial barriers that may otherwise hinder riders from embracing the benefits of electric mobility.

    Mr. Sharma said that the agreement adds another step toward their goal of enabling universal access to affordable and clean transportation. “The benefits of electric bikes are many, and we want to make them affordable for people to own. They have far lower maintenance and operational costs compared to fuel-powered versions, making them more economical. Additionally, our bikes are designed and made to cater to the specific needs of our customers, and we will also manage the set-up of charging infrastructure to manage range anxiety,” he added.

    Mr. Massawe expressed confidence in the partnership, stating, “We believe the future of the mobility industry is electric. Through our collaboration with Spiro, we will play a role in making electric motorbikes more accessible to riders in Kenya and eventually in Africa and help in improving access and affordability.’’

    Spiro’s CEO, Kaushik Burman, says, “Spiro continues to expand its collaborative partnership model across multiple areas in the value chain to foster electrification of the mobility sector in Kenya and other countries in Africa. We look forward to building this partnership with Watu in Kenya and other countries.”

    Because of their zero carbon emissions, electric vehicles are a more sustainable and environmentally friendly form of transportation. According to the National Climate Change Action Plan 2018–2022, the transport sector’s share of the nation’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2015 was about 13 percent.

    Due to consistent sector growth, this percentage is expected to rise to 17 percent by 2030. To meet Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32% by 2030, the adoption of electric vehicles by the sector has been encouraged.

    Last year, Kenya launched an initiative to encourage the acceleration of e-mobility adoption to empower youth, lower the cost of operation for the boda boda sector, and position the country as a front-runner on the e-mobility journey.

    Last year, Spiro announced that it would set up an electric motorcycle manufacturing and assembly plant at the Dogo Kundu Special Economic Zone in Mombasa, once it is operational. The plant will have the capacity to manufacture more than 1,000 motorcycles a day for distribution and sale across the African continent.

  • 5,000 Muslim Families Set to Benefit from a partnership with Premier Bank Kenya and Zakat Kenya

    Signing between Zakat Kenya and Premium Bank,

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    By James Nyaigoti,

    Premier Bank Kenya is elated to announce the signing of a partnership with Zakat Kenya to sponsor the annual “We Are One – Iftar Walk”.

    The initiative has been in existence since 2017 and has been able to support over 20,000 Muslim families in Kenya.
    The initiative aligns with Premier Bank Kenya’s mission to provide progressive, ethical, banking solutions, prioritising its customers while making sustainable economic contributions in communities across Africa.

    Premier Bank Kenya’s CEO, Osman Dualle, stated, “This partnership represents a step forward in our ongoing efforts to give back to the communities that Premier Bank serves through providing Muslim families in Nairobi with food packages during the Holy month of Ramadan.

    Premium Bank, CEO Osman Ndwale and Sh. Abdi Shakur Vice Chair Zakat Kenya address the press

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    We aim to feed 5,000 families, institutions, schools and the entire Islamic fraternity through this joint partnership. The Premier Bank Kenya team will also be participating in the walk to encourage physical fitness and endure wellness is incorporated into our lifestyles”.

    Zakat Kenya’s Vice Chairman, Abdi Shakur Mohammed, expressed his excitement to kick off the partnership with Premier Bank Kenya this year. “This initiative has been in existence for the past seven years and our main mandate is giving back to the Muslim community in Kenya. We thank Premier Bank Kenya for taking the initiative to join the cause and uplift the Muslim
    community.” He also added that, “Zakat Kenya believes that this partnership will help alleviate the Muslim community in light of the current tough economic times by providing food packages for families to enjoy during the holy month of Ramadan.

    The partnership will feature two major events:
    1. Iftar fun walk to fundraise for the 2024 Iftar program. The walk will be flagged off at Adams Masjid and Islamic Center and finish at Sir Ali Muslim club grounds on 25th
    February 2024.

    2. Distribution of Iftar food packs to low income households before/on the first day of
    Ramadan.

    Individuals and institutions interested in participating in the walk can register on the Zakat Kenya website and Premier Bank Kenya branches in Nairobi at Ksh.1,000.
    The joint partnership between Premier Bank Kenya and Zakat Foundation seeks to advocate for healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages through sensitising and supporting initiatives that promote health and nutrition which contribute to sustainable and economic growth
    of Kenya.

    The bank seeks to explore further CSR activities and initiatives contributing to sustainabledevelopment goals focusing on environmental sustainability, education and transformedeconomies later on in the year.
    At Premier Bank Kenya, our aim is to strengthen our partnerships and business through provision of accessible, efficient and convenient banking solutions guided by Shariah banking principles.

     

     

  • Launch of National Strategic Plan for TB, Leprosy and Lung Health

    During the launch of the Report.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    By James Nyaigoti,

    The Ministry of Health has today launched 2023/2024-2027/2028 National Strategic Plan for TB, Leprosy and Lung health.

    The launch, witnessed the presence of various stakeholders including; Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki Ministry of Health, Centre for Desease Control (CDC), USAID, World Health Organisatio (WHO), Stop TB partnership Kenya, Parliamentary Caucus Kenya and other stakeholders.

    Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the Top infectious killers in the world and the leading infectious disease killer in Kenya. According to the WHO Global TB report, 2021 Kenya was one of the High TB burden countries that achieved WHOs End TB strategy.

    Dr. Everlyn from Stop TB partnership observed that, she spent the third of my life discussing TB from World Health organisation and other areas. Integrating TB across various departments in Government is needed. Policies that align to health measures should also be taken. There is need to treat TB as a social problem and demedicalize it.
    Dr. Abraham Katana CDC branch also noted that, finding TB ealier makes it easier to cure and most deaths witnessed as a result of HIV are caused by TB.

    Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni address during the launch

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    “We want to see Kenya move away from curative to preventive measures and reduce long ques in our hospitals. It is also important for the ealier treatment. The deseases high mortality are also caused by misdiagnosis.
    Community Health Promoters CHP in the country will play an important role in promoting health in our communities.
    The strategic also proposes practical mechanisms in tackling TB in kenya.” Said PS Mary Muthoni.

    In the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal on “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all,” which includes ending the TB epidemic by 2030, collective action at the national and on a global scale is imperative.

    WHO congratulates Kenya on the development of an evidence-based, people-centered National Strategic Plan for TB, Leprosy, and Lung Disease 2023/24-2027/28. The development of this plan, informed by the latest WHO global guidance on the development process, reflects a meticulous consideration of fundamental principles of TB planning and programming for epidemic response and control, while placing individuals and communities at the forefront of TB interventions. The strategic plan aligns seamlessly with the Global WHO-END TB strategy, whose overarching goal is to reduce the incidence of TB, preventing deaths from the disease, and mitigating the catastrophic economic costs associated with TB-related illness.

    In the same light, we commend the efforts of the Ministry of Health in the development of the first ever TB laboratory operational plan and quality management framework in Kenya, that will strengthen laboratory systems and operations. This will play a pivotal role in optimizing TB surveillance, increasing access to rapid WHO recommended tools, enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline laboratory processes, enhance laboratory information system, and strengthen the sample referral network.

    WHO applauds the nation’s historic achievement in the region to implement the new WHO recommended, simplified diagnostic algorithm for children and the shorter, four-month pediatric regimen for TB treatment. This milestone marks a significant stride in pediatric TB care, representing a pioneering effort to address the unique healthcare needs of children affected by this infectious disease. The adoption of the simplified diagnostic algorithm will ensure diagnosing TB in children is made easier, contributing to increased, early and more accurate detection. This commendable initiative underscores Kenya’s commitment to advancing healthcare and serves as a beacon of progress for the region in the collective endeavor to combat childhood tuberculosis.

     

  • Improved Road and Railway Boosts Kenya and Intra-African Trade

    During the Nile Food Basin Egypt to Kenya Exhibition.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Improving transport infrastructure between Cairo and Johannesburg will greatly improve trade within the African continent.

    According to Egypt’s Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Wael Nasr Eldin Attiya, the road infrastructure within the continent is seventy percent complete, and with various countries such as Egypt having completed their sections, they will see increased volumes of trade.

    “We are sure that trade within our two countries and the continent in general will improve once the ongoing infrastructure projects are complete. By this, we mean both road and railway as crucial in facilitating the movement of goods. We have problems in countries that have conflict, but once these issues are solved, we believe it will be complete in no time,” says Egypt’s Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Wael Nasr Eldin Attiya.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the Kenya-Egypt trade mission in Nairobi, Wael added that countries must also work to eliminate various non-tariff and tariff barriers as they continue to stifle trade within the continent.

    The Ambassador adds that the port of Mombasa continues to be a pivotal point in facilitating trade between Egypt and Kenya, with the proximity between the two countries also working to the advantage of exporters and importers.

    Further, he adds that the imbalance in trade between Kenya and Egypt is due to Mombasa being a gateway to East and Central Africa. Wael says trade volumes between the two countries continue to increase thanks to improved relations.

    At the center, Egypt’s Ambassador to Kenya H.E Wael Nasr Eldin Attiya, takes a look at the Exhibition at Serena Hotel.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    “Transport by ship from Cairo to Mombasa currently takes about 14 days which is quite fast thus we are encouraging companies from both Kenya and Egypt to explore this route as we wait for the completion of other logistics infrastructure,” He added.

    The ambassador has also lauded the entry of the Egyptian bank into the Kenyan market saying it will enable trade between business people from both countries. Speaking at the same event CIB Kenya CEO Daphne Maina said the bank will enable and facilitate trade between the two COMESA nations.

    The Kenya-Egypt trade mission is organized by the Egyptian Food Export Council and features a series of productive visits by Egyptian companies to wholesale market areas and key supermarket chains in Nairobi. The Kenyan companies will also have an opportunity to have B2B meetings with the 26 companies during the two-day event.

  • Boost for customer-facing staff as pesapal introduces a digital tipping solution

    Pesapal client service officer Erick Isigi shows a merchant how to use the new tipping feature on the Sabi POS Machine. The new feature enables customers to add tips to their bills when transacting.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pesapal, a leader in building payments and business tools for Africa, has released a new feature that allows customers to add a tip directly on its POS devices.

    This new feature will be available on all Pesapal Sabi POS terminals and aims to make tipping easier and more convenient as cashless transactions continue to grow across East Africa.

    “As transactions go cashless, we are adapting our POS machines to accommodate digital tipping. With this new feature, we are providing a convenient way for customers to show their appreciation for good service,” Pesapal Technical Director Fred Mwangima said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    According to the McKinsey Global Payment Map, Africa’s domestic e-payments market is expected to see revenues grow by approximately 20 percent per year, reaching around $40 billion by 2025. With this new feature, customers can now effortlessly include a tip to their total bill amount right on the POS machine, eliminating the hustle of searching for cash tips.

    “We are responding to the current dynamics of the payment landscape that has seen a surge in digital payments. Tipping is a great incentive for attendants to provide great service, but it has become more difficult in the post-COVID era as most consumers migrate toward cashless transactions,” Pesapal Group CEO Agosta Liko said.

    The introduction of this new feature makes the checkout process simple for both the merchant and their customers. When the customer is ready to pay, the POS will display the total amount due, along with options for adding a tip. Customers can choose from preset tip percentages or enter a custom amount. The tip amount is then added to the total bill, and the transaction is complete. The tip will then be directly transferred to their mobile wallet.

    In recent years, merchants across multiple industries, including hospitality, retail, service, entertainment, healthcare, and fuel stations, have embraced digital technology. Advances in payment acceptance have led to transformative results, and the digital tipping experience will be an extension of that push to digitize these industries.

    Merchants who already have the terminal can easily activate the feature through a simple software update.

  • 24-Year-Old Lady Wins Inaugural SportPesa Mega Jackpot Bonus of 2024

    24-year-old lady takes home first SportPesa Mega Jackpot Bonus win of 2024

    In a spectacular turn of events, 24-year-old Christine Adhiambo Muganda emerged triumphant as the inaugural winner of the SportPesa Mega Jackpot Bonus for the year 2024.

    A dedicated Health Records student at the Kenya Medical Training College in Oyugis, Muganda showcased her sports prowess by accurately predicting the outcomes of an impressive 15 out of 17 matches.

    Hailing from Oyugis in Homabay County, Muganda received the thrilling news via a mobile text message at precisely 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday. The serendipitous moment was a stark contrast to her humble beginnings, as she recalled placing her bet the morning before while en route to church. Her ritual of combining sports enthusiasm with a heartfelt prayer for good fortune paid off spectacularly.

    “It was then that I remembered placing my bet the previous morning while on the way to church, even as I prayed to God for good tidings. Only after receiving a call from SportPesa confirming the same on Monday did I accept that indeed I had won,” recounted the soft-spoken Muganda, who has been an avid participant on the SportPesa platform for the past two years.

    This significant win, totaling an impressive 2,335,528 shillings, not only serves as a financial windfall for Muganda but also stands as a testament to her strategic acumen in the realm of sports betting. Her consistent dedication to the SportPesa platform over the past two years has now culminated in a well-deserved victory, showcasing the exhilarating blend of skill, intuition, and unpredictability that defines the world of sports predictions. Muganda’s success adds a new chapter to the narrative of sports enthusiasts who find fortune through both strategy and chance in the captivating realm of sports betting.

    Meanwhile, the SportPesa headquarters played host to the triumphant return of Vincent Onyala and Anthony Omondi, co-captains of the revered Kenya 7s Rugby team, Shujaa. The dynamic duo, fresh from their victorious campaign in Dubai, where they clinched the first leg of the World Rugby HSBC 7s Challenger Series by defeating Chile 12-5 in the finals, presented their trophy to SportPesa CEO Hon. Capt. Ronald Karauri during a courtesy visit.

    “This was an awesome experience for the team; we knew where and how we wanted to start our campaign back to the top to make it into the top 4, and by the end of the tournament, we were the team to beat, which was indeed the icing on the cake”, expressed Anthony Omondi of the SportPesa-sponsored
    squad.

    Looking ahead, the co-captains acknowledged the formidable task that lies ahead for Shujaa in the remaining legs of the World Challenger Series. With two more legs to navigate, the team remains focused on the challenges and prospects of reclaiming their position in the World Rugby 7s Series. The upcoming legs in the World Challenger Series are scheduled for Montevideo, Uruguay, from 8th to 10th March, and Munich, Germany, from 18th to 19th May. The SportPesa-sponsored squad remains resolute in their pursuit of excellence on the global rugby stage.

    “This was a sweet win, but we can’t bask in the victory for too long because we know it is going to get tougher, so we have to recover fast, moving into the next tournament. Thanks to SportPesa, we can now take on the incredible task ahead of us to get out of relegation and back to the World Series,” explained Onyala.

    Noting that the boys gave a good account of themselves in Dubai, Onyala added that preparation for the next leg will include a lot of team bonding and cohesion exercises while closely monitoring the other top three sides, namely, Uruguay, Japan, and Chile.

    #ShindaMoreNaSportPesa

  • The new Showmax is revolutionising streaming for Africa

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The new Showmax has arrived to change the game for streaming in Africa.

     

    Ten months after MultiChoice, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky announced a joint streaming vision for Africa, the new Showmax is here, featuring a refreshed brand and a massive content lineup, all delivered on a powerful new streaming platform.

     

    At the heart of the new offering is the world’s first standalone Premier League plan for mobile, with all 380 games offered live on Showmax Premier League for just Ksh 500 a month.

     

    In addition, there are two more Showmax plans available to customers in 44 African countries: Showmax Entertainment on mobile for an unbelievable Ksh 300 a month, as well as the Showmax Entertainment plan, where the monthly price falls from Ksh 760 to Ksh 650 per month.

     

    “There are currently just over 450 million smartphones in the hands of individuals across Africa … and more than 250 million avid football lovers on the continent,” says Marc Jury, CEO of Showmax. “Showmax Premier League is a game-changing product that gives individuals a ticket to the football they love, wherever they are, on the device they always have with them, at a price that’s impossible not to love.”

     

    “Africa is incredibly important to the Premier League and our clubs; 20% of TV audiences on any given matchday come from Africa,” says Richard Masters, Premier League CEO. “We are delighted with this Showmax initiative, which puts the Premier League in your pocket at a new price point so that millions more can enjoy our fantastic competition.”

     

    Core to the success of Showmax’s streaming ambitions in Africa is a new technical platform that is robust and built to scale. With the launch of Showmax, the Peacock streaming platform will be active in more than 70 countries and is continually enhanced by the combined expertise of thousands of engineers. The world-class platform has brought millions of viewers popular events such as Super Bowl LVI, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final, the Olympics and WrestleMania 39. On 13 January, Peacock’s exclusive AFC Wild Card Game became the biggest live-streamed event in US history, reaching 27.6 million viewers and a record 16.3 million concurrent devices. In 2023, Comcast won a Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for its sports viewing experiences across Peacock, Sky and Xfinity.

     

    “Peacock’s best-in-class technology platform will deliver a world-class streaming experience to Showmax audiences,” said Patrick Miceli, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Direct- to-Consumer & International, NBCUniversal. “The Peacock platform was designed from day one to support both live and on-demand content, including the biggest live sporting events, so we look forward to extending that capability and reliability to the new Showmax.”

     

    Alongside the Premier League, the new Showmax also opens the door to a thrilling entertainment universe spanning a wide range of stars and stories across multiple genres. With no fewer than 21 new Showmax Originals launching in February alone, there will be more than 1 300 hours of Showmax Originals produced in the coming year, representing a significant 150% increase in production output compared to the year before.

     

    Complementing this powerful African content slate is an international offering that will give viewers cause for celebration. As a result of MultiChoice’s partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky, Showmax is guaranteed an ongoing supply of the world’s most popular titles from the media giant’s renowned brands, including Universal Pictures, Focus Features, NBC, Peacock, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo. The stellar content lineup includes films like the latest instalment in the hit Fast franchise, Fast X, and Wes Anderson’s comedy-drama Asteroid City; procedural drama series such as NBC’s The Irrational starring Jesse L. Martin; and Peacock original comedy series Killing It, from the creative team behind Brooklyn Nine-Nine, starring Craig Robinson.

     

    Showmax will also continue to draw from the likes of Paramount, including Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning and Halo S2 in February, and HBO, with new seasons of House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, True Detective, and The White Lotus on the way.

     

    Showmax’s content offering is further boosted by its focus on the African market and strengthened by the vast creative and commercial presence already established by MultiChoice. “Nobody understands Africa like we do. Showmax is putting the continent first with a powerful streaming service that will revolutionise streaming in Africa in 2024,” says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO.

     

    With the content and platform providing strong foundations for the new Showmax, ease of access for customers is another key business priority. As the first streaming service in Africa to make mobile downloads possible for offline viewing and the first to launch a mobile-only plan, Showmax has now delivered incredibly competitive new price points, with a growing network of payment options available to customers.

     

    This payment ecosystem is facilitated by Moment, another MultiChoice joint venture partner. Working with more than 200 payment partners such as banks, mobile money providers, retailers and payment schemes, Moment is building the broadest pan-African payments network. In addition, DStv customers will continue to have the option of adding Showmax to their DStv bill each month and benefitting from significant discounts. Showmax will be announcing additional partnerships soon that will offer even more value to customers.

     

    The new Showmax app will become available in app stores from 23 January 2024 onward, as part of a staggered migration process across 44 markets. This is an ongoing process that starts next week and will be completed in February this year. Existing Showmax customers will begin receiving communication with information on how to access the new app this week and by 12 February 2024 the new Showmax will be live in all markets.

     

    The new Showmax is revolutionising streaming for Africa

    • Exciting new era driven by Premier League in your pocket, global partnerships for the world’s best international content, and a multi-million-Rand investment to increase African Originals by 150%
    • Affordability is key to Showmax’s ambition and goal to be number one streamer in Africa

    Showmax Entertainment drops to Ksh 650 a month

    Showmax Premier League mobile plan is Ksh 500 a month

    Showmax Entertainment Mobile offered for just Ksh 300 a month

    Bundled offers from Ksh 700

     

  • StarTimea/SJAK Awards n

    StarTimea/SJAK Awards n

     

     

    Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) in collaboration with StarTimes on Saturday awarded nine coaches for their exemplary efforts as Coach of the Month Award winners for the period between April and December 2023.
    Martin Abunde, head coach of Roll Ball national team was named April’s Coach of the month in a colorful ceremony held in Nairobi.

    Abunde edged out two other top competitive coaches to the award after his World Cup heroics with the national roll ball teams in India.He guided the Kenya national women’s and men teams to the historic Roll Ball World Cup victory.


    The Kenya women’s team crashed Egypt 5-0 in the finals. Despite arriving late for the global tourney played in Pure, India, Kenya defeated Nepal 8-1, France 10-0, Sri Lanka 6-2 and Egypt 2-1 in the group stages. Kenya then overcame Poland 2-1 in the semi-finals.The men’s team on the other hand saw off hosts India 7-4 in the final to complete a double.
    Abunde garnered 31 votes to edge out Kabras Sugar’s Carlos Katywa and Nyamira Girls Hockey coach Eliakim Obondo.


    Boniface Nyamuhnyamuh of Vihiga Queens football team was named May’s winner for guiding Vihiga Queens to the coveted 2022-2023 FKF Women’s Premier League title. Vihiga finish top with 55 points, seven points ahead of Gaspo who finish the season second.

    Gor Mahia’s tacician Jonathan McKinstry won the June 2023 award after helping his side win their record 20th FKF Premier League title. Gor finished top with 70 points, a point above Tusker whom they dethroned after previously winning the title two seasons in a row.

    July 2023 winner Patrick Odhiambo won the award after helping Kakamega Homeboyz win their first ever silverware. Homeboyz defeated Tusker 1-0 to win the Mozzartbet FKF Cup. Homeboyz thus bagged Sh2 million in prize money and also earned the right to represent Kenya at the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup, the first time they played in continental football.
    Nyamira Girls hockey team coach Eliakim Obondo was named the

    Eliakim Obondo won the August award after helping Nyamira Girls rack up their first ever East African Secondary School games title two months after leading his side win the KSSSA National title in 32 years. Nyamira Girls won all the titles from Sub County, County, Regional, National, East Africa.They will represent Kenya at World School Games this year in Serbia.
    Obondo beat Paul Bitok who helped Kenya’s Malkia Strikers win the African Volleyball Championship for the first time since 2015 by defeating Egypt 3-0 in the final in Yaounde, Cameroon to also qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics.

    Other winners were Kevin Wambua of Rugby-Kenya Sevens in September, Japhet Munala of KCB Women Volleyball team in October, Moses Andiwo of Equity Chess in November and Evelyne Kedogo of Basketball 3 by 3 in December.

    Munala led KCB to the 2023 Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Premier League title victory whilst Andiwo won the award after helping Equity Bank Chess Club win the 2023 Kenya National Chess Premier League (KNCPL) champions.

    StarTimes CEO Jimmy Carter Luo expressed his joy during the event and announced StarTimes continued SUPPORT to SJAK.
    He said that the StarTimes will continue investing in support of the sport across the Country.
    “I’m very happy for this occasion and StarTimes will continue supporting local talents across the Country,”
    SJAK President James Waindi on his part said
    “We are very pleased with the partnership with Startimes, it comes at an ideal time where all eyes are on AFCON 2023.

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