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Digital Literacy Will Help Kenyan Youth Stay Ahead – Expert

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In today’s increasingly digital world, digital literacy has become an essential skill for success in education, work, and daily life.

It is important for individuals to develop digital literacy skills in order to effectively use technology and participate in the digital economy, as well as to be informed and engaged citizens in an increasingly connected world.

Digital literacy refers to the ability to effectively navigate, understand, and use digital technologies and information in order to communicate, create, learn, and participate in the digital world. It involves a combination of technical skills and critical thinking abilities, such as the ability to access and evaluate information online, use digital tools to communicate and collaborate with others, protect personal information and privacy online, and engage in ethical and responsible online behavior.

At the recent U.S.-Africa Business Forum, President Biden announced the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, which will invest $350 million to expand digital access and literacy in Africa. During the last decade, the promise of Africa’s $180 billion digital economy started an undersea cable race amongst Silicon Valley giants to build the region’s internet infrastructure.

Africa controls 70% of the world’s $1 trillion mobile money market. It is a fact that can easily lull you into believing the continent is a land of digital abundance. Being Pollyanna about the explosive growth in mobile payments masks the full magnitude of the digital divide. For instance, compared to other regions in the world, sub-Saharan Africa still has the highest monthly cost, as a percentage of GDP, of one gigabyte of data.

According to the 2021 Ibrahim Forum Report, 58% of Kenyans have access to the internet, but only 29% of the population has a basic level of digital literacy. The lack of digital literacy hinders the country’s economic growth and results in missed opportunities. Digital literacy is more than just the ability to use the internet, it is also about skills in data analytics, app development, and network management.

The Kenyan government has taken a step in the right direction by introducing coding as part of the school curriculum in primary and secondary schools. This will contribute to improving digital literacy among young people and equip them with the necessary skills to compete in the digital economy. In prioritising digital literacy, policymakers can hope to attract some of the 20-50 million jobs that will be created from the development and deployment of technology (McKinsey).

While curriculums in many African schools address computer literacy, policymakers should ensure that the curriculum develops digital literacy skills that are relevant to the country’s digital economy. This will ensure that students have the necessary skills to take up the opportunities provided by Kenya’s growing digital economy.

Various private sector organisations such as mobile network operators and technology companies, have launched digital literacy initiatives in Kenya. For example, Safaricom, Kenya’s largest mobile network operator, has established a program called “DigiFarm,” which provides small-scale farmers with digital skills to improve their productivity and income. That said, more needs to be done to bridge the broader digital literacy gap especially in rural Kenya to ensure that all Kenyans can participate in the digital economy.

Not-for-profit Project Management Institute, the world’s leading association for project professionals, has been advocating to make it easier for students to connect with skills development opportunities over the internet. It offers citizen development courses free of cost to interested universities in Africa. But coordinating mechanisms are needed to improve interaction and collaboration across government, educational institutes, training providers, and business so the intention is translated into action.

Citizen development is one of the strategies to enhance digital literacy. Citizen developers create software and applications with little or no coding experience and will be central to digital transformation in the future.

If we continue to ignore the fact that technological progress and its accelerating rate of change requires new skill sets, we will produce a workforce unfit for the 230 million jobs requiring digital skills by 2030 (IFC 2019 Digital Skills report).

As we face the fourth industrial revolution, improving access at the expense of the ability to participate in the digital economy is squandering the best opportunity in decades to close the digital divide.

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Spotify Has Quietly Hiked Prices in Kenya

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Spotify, the worldwide music streaming giant, has unexpectedly raised its subscription prices in Kenya. This change impacts all subscription levels, ranging from the economical Premium Mini to the extensive Family plan.

Spotify has just announced that it will raise the prices across all its subscription tiers in Kenya. This increase reflects how much one will have to pay to access premium features of the music streaming platform, with a new price change that applies to several user plans. This move is part of a wider trend within the streaming industry, where globally, these platforms inflate their prices in response to inflation and increased operational costs. Beginning today, users in Kenya will pay more to listen to their favorite music streaming services as Spotify continues to add more features and music to the platform.

The prices in Kenya have risen by 13.3 percent to 40.8 percent depending on the particular subscription. The wide range shows that some plans only have a moderate adjustment, while others see substantial rises. That is to say, many users are likely reviewing their current subscriptions or their more financially apt tiers. Specific reasons for these particular percentage increases have not been discussed, but this shows the platform’s intention: keeping profitability with competitive services.

Amongst the lot of subscription options, Premium Mini received the highest increase in percentage terms. The plan, previously the most affordable that gave access to Spotify’s premium features for either a day or a week, is now one of the relatively dearer options compared to other tiers. This steep increase may particularly affect users who rely on short-term premium access for occasional use and encourage them to either upgrade to longer-term plans or switch to other streaming platforms.

Here’s a comprehensive look at how Spotify’s prices have changed for Kenyan subscribers:

PlanOld PriceNew PriceIncreasePercentage Increase
Premium Mini (1 week)KES 49KES 69KES 2040.8%
Premium Individual (monthly)KES 299KES 339KES 4013.4%
Premium Student (monthly)KES 149KES 169KES 2013.4%
Premium Duo (monthly)KES 389KES 439KES 5012.9%
Premium Family (monthly)KES 479KES 549KES 7014.6%
  1. Premium Mini:The most economical choice experienced the largest percentage rise, at 40.8%. Such a substantial increase could affect users who depend on weekly subscriptions and are mindful of their budgets.
  2. Premium Individual and Student: Both plans saw a 13.4% increase. Although the absolute increase for students is smaller, the percentage rise is the same as that of the individual plan.
  3. Premium Duo:This couples’ plan experienced the smallest percentage increase at 12.9%, potentially rendering it a more appealing option for couples aiming to save.
  4. Premium Family: The price of the most expensive plan rose by 14.6%, potentially impacting households dependent on shared accounts.

For individuals seeking to optimize value, the Duo and Family plans may provide greater cost-effectiveness for those who are eligible. Students are advised to keep their verification current to maintain access to reduced rates.

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Infinix’s Hot Launch; The All New Hot 50 Series is Here

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Over the last couple of months, Infinix has been making waves in the smartphone market, and their recent attempt at solidifying this move looks set to serve Kenyan consumers as the smartphone manufacturer launches their latest series of budget-friendly gadgets, and oh are they something. 

The newly launched budget phone is the Infinix Hot 50i with functional elements users on a tight budget will find quite appealing. The budget-friendly market is where real competition exists if you ask me. Here’s whats on paper so far.

Infinix Hot 50i

The Infinix Hot 50i, part of the same Hot 50 series, brings its own set of features, which is powered by the MediaTek Helio G81, which is paired with 4GB of RAM.

However, this RAM can be expanded to 8GB, providing users with more flexibility depending on their usage requirements. This model offers similar performance in day-to-day tasks but at a more affordable price point.

Infinix Hot 50i Specs

  • Display: A large 6.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and 120Hz refresh rate.
  • Processor: Powered by the MediaTek Helio G81 processor, for smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming.
  • RAM and Storage: Available in configurations of 4GB or 6GB RAM, which can be virtually extended up to 8GB. The device also boasts a generous internal storage capacity of 256GB.
  • Camera System: 48MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera for selfies.
  • Battery Life: 5000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.
  • Audio: Dual DTS speakers designed to enhance sound quality, making it ideal for music lovers and media consumers.
  • Operating System: Runs on XOS based on Android 14, providing a user-friendly interface with various customization options.
  • Additional Features:  A side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security, a USB Type-C charging port, and TÜV’s 48-month performance certification for long-term reliability.

Infinix Hot 50i Pricing

The Hot 50i is available in the Kenyan market at a price of KES 13,699, making it an attractive option for those looking for an affordable, yet capable smartphone.

The phone comes three attractive color options: Sleek Black, Sage Green, and Titanium Grey.

It will be widely available in retail stores after September 30th. Stay tuned to watch us review these units and give you a hands-on review of whether this should be your next phone or why not.

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New WhatsApp Feature Lets You Mention Contacts In Status Updates

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WhatsApp has recently added a new feature to its Status updates, allowing users to tag contacts directly.

Currently available on Android for users with beta version 2.24.20.3 or higher, this update introduces a @ button that lets you mention specific contacts in your Status.

Once tagged, they receive both a notification and a message, ensuring they won’t miss your update. Tagged contacts can also reshare your Status, but only they will see their mention, preserving privacy.

Unlike Instagram, WhatsApp keeps the identity of the original Status creator hidden when tagged contacts reshare it. One key thing to note is that if you’ve blocked someone from viewing your Status, they can still see it if tagged using this feature.

This update, along with WhatsApp’s other hidden features, aims to make interactions more personal and dynamic on the platform.

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