Author: NLM Correspondent

By Antony Mutunga Cyber criminals have been evolving at a faster rate, especially after an increase in online users during the pandemic. This has seen 2021 being a good year for hackers, especially against Microsoft windows, As at November 2021, a record of over 100mn malwares were developed mainly to target Microsoft windows, and to pry on unexpected users according to a report by Atlas VPN and AV-TEST GmbH. The data, which was provided by AV-TEST GmbH, an independent research institute for IT security and analysed by Atlas VPN, identified 107.28mn new threats. Compared to the previous year (2020), there…

Businesses in Kenya are dealing with 1,400 cyber attacks each week as per Check Point research 2021 saw a 29% rise in cyberattacks against businesses across the world. In Africa, this growing threat is driven by an increase in users accessing the internet, creating a larger pool of targets for criminals, which is the same thing being witnessed in Kenya. Data from Check Point Research Threat Intelligence Report shows that the country’s connected population nearly reached 22mn users in January 2021 – a figure likely to have grown as pandemic lockdowns forced many business and government services online. “It’s alarming…

Non-fungible tokens could be the new online goldmine By Antony Mutunga Anyone who spends a considerable amount of time online has come across ways to make money through online portals. You may not have made cash the entire time you have been using the internet, but many are taking advantage of the diverse opportunities that the digital space offers. Since the start of 2021, nothing has skyrocketed in popularity more than non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which can be described as unique assets or digital certificates in the digital world that can be turned into income – they can be bought and…

While not every business is online, it is better to understand why it is critical to go that route especially now that experts say 66% of consumers are more loyal to the brands they follow on social media. For Kamaldeep Sandhu, it was an eye-opener to realize that online presence for her business was the “booster” she had been missing. Ms Sandhu is the managing director of Malaika Gifts and Interiors, a Kenyan based start-up that links artisans with clients. Since its founding in 2012, she says, the company has been operating from a physical shop in Nakuru, and mainly…

You don’t need a lot of funding to start some businesses – just energy, passion and the drive to succeed. Today, more and more individuals are considering starting their own business, and for good reasons. On average, one might have two and three careers during their work life. Those leaving one career to another often think about their second or third career move being one they can manage as a side hustle. The good news: creating a second incoem stream is within the reach of almost anyone who wants to take a risk and work hard. Experience, training, or licensing may be needed. …

By Fred Ndung’u The new business normal brought about by Covid-19 pandemic means new capacity gaps for business owners in leading their businesses to sustainability and growth. For Phoebe Nyangweso, resilience programs are very important especially when building a tech empire. As the managing director and founder of Agro and Real Limited, an ICT operating company, the need to spur growth led her to appreciate the need for capacity building as the starting point in putting her business on a positive recovery and growth path. Ms. Nyangweso said her business scooped its share of challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, especially…

Investors can now start earning passive income from real estate without necessarily owning the properties By ZADOCK MALIKA Rental arbitrage, which is the act of renting out an already rented property, is a hot model right now. It involves leasing a rental property especially to travellers usually for a longer term. Every so often, one would list his/her property on various online portals, and re-rent it out on either a short-term or long-term basis. The model has been adopted across many countries – a typical three-bed house on an online booking platform like Airbnb might go for Sh15,000 a night,…

The National Housing Corporation (NHC) is set to construct 10,500 homes dubbed “Stoni Athi Waterfront City” in Athi River, Mavoko Sub County By Conceptah Isanya and Rachael Kilonzo, KNA Speaking during the launch of Stoni Athi Waterfront city in December last year, Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public works CS, James Macharia noted that the houses are being developed on 150-acre land at a total cost of Sh20bn. Macharia observed that the houses which target low, middle, and high-income earners will be a multipurpose housing entity varying from residential, commercial, recreational facilities, schools and hospitals, adding that they will…

Looking beyond the borders can provide opportunities for Kenyan investors By Robert Ochieng’ A stock exchange is a marketplace for the buying and selling of shares, bonds and securities. Stock exchanges can serve as a measure for the health of the national economy, and can also be a key indicator of world economic strength. Most exceptional brands and companies in Kenya are listed in foreign stock markets, which is a larger strategy to keep money flowing. Each and every Tuesday, Pizza Inn outlets in Nairobi have a Terrific Tuesday promotions for “buy one pizza and get one free”. The brand is…

It will take at least another decade before smallholder farmers in Africa are able to smoothly supply multinational food chains BY David Thuita Kenyans on social media platforms were at it again, and this time after food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) ran out of potatoes. One perspective I completely missed in all the online posts I came across was the market share between the formal and informal markets for farm-sourced commodities. This comparison would have have brought in a whole new dose of information that would have quickly drenched out the fury. Let me shock you, did you know…