Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd is set to revolutionise the consumer electronics industry with its unwavering commitment to AI-driven technology.

 Recognising AI as the cornerstone of innovation, Samsung is reshaping the future of its products, embedding AI capabilities across a diverse spectrum of devices.

"At Samsung, AI isn't just a feature; it's the catalyst for transformative experiences. We are reimagining consumer electronics, infusing AI into our products to create personalised, intuitive, and seamlessly connected experiences," said Mr. Sam Odhiambo, Head of Consumer Electronics at Samsung Electronics East Africa.   

Samsung's AI-centric approach aims to transcend traditional device boundaries, enriching users’ lives through smarter, more inclusive experiences.

With a robust portfolio encompassing over 500 million smart devices annually, Samsung is uniquely positioned to democratise AI, integrating it into everyday life.

“Central to Samsung's strategy is fostering an open ecosystem, facilitating collaborations with partners to enrich AI experiences. The SmartThings platform, already hosting millions of devices, exemplifies Samsung's commitment to collaborative innovation,” said Mr. Sam Odhiambo.

The company's decade-long investment in AI technology is evident in its popular products and evolving services.

Samsung is not only enhancing user experiences but also focusing on responsible innovation. Sustainability, accessibility, and reduced environmental impact are integral to Samsung's AI initiatives.

Samsung's AI-led innovations span across diverse categories, such as visual display, digital appliances, mobile experiences, and automotive technology.

 From AI-powered visual displays offering unprecedented clarity to smart home appliances seamlessly integrated with AI for enhanced functionality, Samsung's products exemplify the potential of AI in reshaping everyday experiences.

“Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN900D boasts a built-in AI Processor, NQ8 AI Gen 3, equipped with an 8 times greater AI neural network and two times faster NPU than its predecessor. Thanks to the NQ8 AI Gen3 processor, Samsung Neo QLED 8K automatically upscales low-resolution content to provide users with up to 8K quality viewing experience and sharpens fast-moving images via AI Motion Enhancer Pro.” noted Mr. Sam Odhiambo.

Adding “ The Samsung Neo QLED 8K also features Active Voice Amplifier Pro, which analyses voice and background noise by AI to optimise your TV listening experience so you can enjoy various content as if you are in the front row of a stadium or movie theatre. Samsung Neo QLED 8K also features Tizen OS Home, which offers the latest apps, services, personalised content, and service recommendations to upscale your entertainment experience,”

Mombasa’s Bandari Youth and their counterparts Changamwe Ladies have advanced to the regional finals set for tomorrow Sunday, at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa after winning in their respective semi-final matches played today.

Playing against Taita Taveta’s Bahati Juniors, Bandari Youth took the lead in the 35th minute through William Gitamu, who scored a delightful, solitary goal to earn them a 1-0 victory.

They will face The Young Gunners from Tana River County, who advanced by winning 4-2 against King Loyal FC from Lamu on a penalty shootout after the game ended 1-1 in regular time, in a tough match witnessed by hundreds of fans from the region.

"I am glad that we have advanced to the finals. Reaching this level is something we don’t take for granted, as in the last edition, we were knocked out at the county level. Today’s game was not easy as King Loyal is also a tough team, but again, I believe our solid defense worked out for us as we denied them a lot of chances." Said Kassim Rhage, Assistant Coach, Young Gunners.

Elsewhere, the defending regional champions Changamwe Ladies’ quest to retain the title in the girls’ category remained alive after silencing Ukunda Starlets from Kilifi 4-1.

Margaret Nafula scored a brace, with Leah Chebet and Diana Mkando each scoring a goal. Ukunda’s consolation goal was scored by Mwaka Grace. 

Coach Benard Owour’s girls will now square it out with their archrivals Bulls Starlets from Kilifi. In the opening match, Bulls Starlets edged out Wenje Secondary from Tana River 7-0 in what seemed like a one-sided semi-final.

Gloria Mupa, in outstanding form, netted five goals for her side with Sarah Grace and Fatuma Tumaini each scoring one goal. 

The winners (boys’ and girls’ team) will take home KES. 250,000 and book a slot to represent the region at the national finals set for March.

The runners-up teams will take home KES. 150,000 each.

The Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer and Most Valuable Player (boys and girls) will each receive KES. 30,000.

In addition to the prize money each player, both winners and runners-up will also get Neon Smartphones, the first locally assembled 4G smartphone in Kenya.

The IGAD Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation program, housed within the Division of Health and Social Development, has been a cornerstone of IGAD's initiatives since the 2015-2020 five-year strategic plan. Its pivotal role gained further prominence with the 2017 Djibouti Declaration, particularly emphasizing education for refugees, returnees, and host communities.

In 2018, IGAD embraced essential frameworks like the Regional Education Policy Framework and the Regional TVET strategy, prioritizing quality and inclusive education.

In the pursuit of excellence, IGAD crafted a comprehensive regional qualification framework, endorsed by Member States and partner agencies, awaiting ministerial approval in the first quarter of this year.

Alongside, a regional scholarship scheme was initiated, admitting the inaugural cohort at the International University of Africa (IUA) in Khartoum, Sudan. Unfortunately, due to the 2023 conflict in Khartoum, these students were evacuated. IGAD is guiding them to join universities in their respective countries, submitting admission papers for IGAD's assistance.

Quality education also involves nurturing teachers' professional growth through training and capacity-building, aligning with the Djibouti Declaration.

IGAD actively implemented the Declaration and related tools, conducting teacher training in Pilot Member States: Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda. Between January 2021 and November 2022, 751 secondary school teachers in refugee and displacement settings, including 259 females, underwent training in pedagogical, psychosocial, life-skill, and ICT modules. A regional workshop in June 2021 aimed to share lessons and experiences in teacher training.

IGAD believes teacher training enhances education quality, student motivation, and psychosocial well-being, facilitating smoother transitions to tertiary education and improving teachers' living conditions. Moreover, it fosters social cohesion and mutual understanding, mitigating psychosocial tensions and trauma from conflict and cultural differences among students.

In conclusion, the IGAD Education Program tackles regional education needs by creating policy spaces, fostering political will, and translating the Djibouti Declaration into actionable steps. Teachers' professional development stands central to IGAD's efforts, striving to make learning attractive, sound, and enjoyable, contributing to completing education cycles and fostering peace and stability in the region.

The IGAD Education Program's experiences, particularly on Teacher Training and Djibouti Declaration implementation, are documented on the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) website. Modules are being designed and printed for posting on the IGAD website.

Published papers like "Leading by Example: Translating the Djibouti Declaration into Action through Refugee Teacher Professional Development" and "Processes, Products, and Lessons in Translating Policies into Practice: The Case of IGAD Teacher Training Initiative in Refugee and Host Community Secondary Schools" are available.

IGAD remains steadfast in prioritizing education, science, technology, and innovation at Member State, regional, and international levels in the upcoming years.

Written by:

Kebede Kassa Tsegaye, PhD

Senior Coordinator, Education, Science, Technology & Innovation,

IGAD Health and Social Development Division.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has moved to court to compel the proprietor and security staff of Kettle House Bar and Grill in Nairobi to compensate the journalists injured during a raid conducted by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) at the premises on 6th January 2024.

MCK CEO Mr David Omwoyo says the Council will push for compensation for the journalists’ physical injuries and equipment damaged during the incident.

“This time we have decided to go a step further by moving to court to demand compensation for the injuries of the journalists and the equipment that was destroyed during the raid”, said Mr Omwoyo at a press conference with Nyandarua-based journalists.

“As the criminal case proceeds, the Council believes that compensation for injuries and equipment is one way of stopping the threats and injuries and holding people accountable for undermining the work of the media and interfering with press freedom”.

Mr Omwoyo at the same time cautioned proprietors of businesses condoning attacks on journalists, saying that action will be taken against them should accredited journalists be attacked in the line of duty within their premises.

“If you own a space or premise and within your space journalists or the media get attacked, you will be held responsible for compensating them for injuries, trauma caused and the equipment”, he said.

The CEO at the same time advised media workers to exercise caution when undertaking assignments in hostile environments, saying that journalists seeking stories sometimes find themselves in precarious conditions where they are assaulted or denied access to some premises.

“The Council calls upon journalists to remain alert and cautious when engaged in such operations and other events that may have implications on their safety”, said Mr Omwoyo

Korea Marine Transport Container (KMTC) Shipping Line has deployed its first ever vessel to the African continent choosing the Port of Mombasa as the first port of Call.

MV KMTC Hochmihn made a maiden call Thursday with 1000 TEUs for the local and transit market, affirming the strategic position of the port as shipping and maritime hub and a preferred port of call for shipping lines.

The call also signals the growth of the region and the country as the traffic in cargo volumes increases.

KMTC General Manager Mr. Mayur Udyawar noted that the shipping line chose Kenya as the gateway through Africa as it looks to expand its operations and business in the continent.

“We opted for the Port of Mombasa because of its productivity and efficiency since we started operations in 2021,” said Mr. Mayur.

While the Shipping Line entered the market two years ago, it has been collaborating with other shipping lines to move cargo for its customers to the region, with MV KMTC Hochimihn becoming the first vessel under the line to ply the Southeast Asia- East Africa route.

“We are happy with the growth and with the deployment of this vessel, we are positive we will handle more cargo” he added.

According to Kenya Ports Authority this is a welcome development and an affirmation of the consistent initiatives to improve capacity and efficiency at the port.

"KMTC has been venturing too much in Asia, it is the first time now they are venturing in Africa and they have given us confidence that they will be a regular caller" said KPA MD Captain William Ruto.

Adding " For us as KPA what we promise is efficiency and improve whatever service that we will be offering them. This is a new business to us and we appreciate. For any new ship to make a call at a port they must have done their due diligence and satisfied."

On his part KPA board Chairman Benjamin Tayari maintained that the Mombasa port has continue to attract new business due to its best service and performance.

"Our port is one of the best in terms of efficiency and I would like to assure our partners and customers that we will not let them down in terms of service delivery" said Tayari

The ship's next destination is the port of Daresalaam.

With the acquisition of new and modern equipment coupled with expanded capacity through berth no 22 that was opened for business recently, the Port of Mombasa has witnessed an increase in shipping lines operation at the port, with the introduction of new vessels and service lines to operate in the East Africa region.

The longest cruise liner for this cruise ship season, Norwegian Dawn is set to make it's maiden call at the Mombasa port with 2,000 tourists aboard.

 The cruise ship that entered service in 2002 and is in operation with Norwegian Cruise Line will dock at the Mombasa port on Sunday, 14th of January 2024.

The ship is currently in Seychelles.

According to the official website, the ship boasts of the largest suites at sea spanning up to 6,693 square feet, these rooms include king- or queen-size beds, separate living and dining areas, luxury baths and private balconies. All Garden Villas come with a certified butler and concierge services.

It has an overall length of 294 metres, and a guest capacity of 2340 and 1,032 crew members

In response to the escalating housing crisis in the Coast region, the national government has announced a dedicated initiative to enhance affordable housing options and construct additional units across the region.

The government is set to construct 100,000 housing units in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Lamu and Tana River counties under the Affordable Housing Program (AHP).

Mombasa will have 50,000 units expected to be constructed with Phase 1 of the Sh6.5 billion Buxton housing project consisting of 512 units already done and delivered to their owners.

Phase two is currently underway and will consist of 1,512 units.

Coast regional director Affordable Housing Program and Markets John Karanja, said  once all the project sites are activated, it will create 200,000 jobs for both skilled and unskilled Kenyans.

“We expect the benefit to be enormous on the value chain of housing development once these sites are activated in these counties. We expect to have about 30,000 jobs both skilled and unskilled created,” said Karanja.

Karanja was addressing the media at the county commissioner’s office in Uhuru na Kazi building after holding a meeting with the Mombasa County assistant county commissioner and other stakeholders in the housing sector.

He said the government was working closely with the Jua kali sector in the projects to ensure that both skilled and unskilled Kenyans gain employment in the housing project.

“To ensure that they benefit, the government has ring-fenced more than 80 products to be supplied by Jua kali artisans in all localities that the houses are being constructed.” He said.

He added , “Mombasa for instance, we will have all doors and windows to be fabricated and all supplies are to be procured within the county.”

Karanja said ring-fencing the products used in AHP means that contractors will not go out of the country to source for products to be used and this will translate to the empowerment of locals and the local economy.

“To ensure that happens, we are registering all Juakali artisans in one umbrella so that contractors are able to source their products and even labor from government offices charged with MSMEs,” he said.

Other project sites within the county include Mzizima (2,000 units) VOK (2,850 units) and Changamwe to have 20,000 units once completed.

Kilifi county he said has four sites expected to generate 20,000 units once done with Lamu having  a site in Mokowe that will have 1,000 units.

In Kwale, four sites have been identified including the Mabokoni smart city which sits on 30 acres, the White house Diani site that will have 300 units, the survey camp in Kwale with 1,600 units and the Kwale housing scheme.

“In Tana River, the government has identified 4 sites in Mapenzi, Vetinary Camp and Garsen while in Taita Taveta County, phase two of the Voi Pool house is expected to be activated by February,” he said.

Mombasa assistant County commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi called on residents and leadership to support the AHP committee in the implementation of AHP programs.

He said  if all plans go on seamlessly, then about 50,000 people in the juakali sector will be employed here in Mombasa.

“My call to Mombasa people and the leadership is that we work closely with the committee and the national government to complete these projects,” he said.

Suleiman Mwatsanga, patron of the Likoni Juakali Association lauded the move by the government to incorporate the sector in the housing program.

He said for years, juakali artisans have been looked down upon for lacking papers with big construction tenders going to established companies.

Mwatsanga said that the opportunity given to them by the government will ensure that his members get jobs and this will have a great economic impact to their families.

“For many years, Juakali people were looked down for lacking papers, but we thank the government for recognizing us and giving us a chance,” he said.

 The government has also introduced the site appraisal program where if a worker is on site without certification, then officers from the relevant government department will come on site to certify their skills and give them certificates.

This will ensure that their skills are certified and they can use their certificates to apply for jobs in other places.

Samsung has unveiled five new Galaxy A Series smartphones that join the already popular line-up among consumers.

The new additions, the Galaxy A25 5G, Galaxy A15 5G, Galaxy A15, Galaxy A05s, and Galaxy A05, are set to give both new customers and loyal A series fans more options with their great features at excellent prices.

The Recommended Retail Prices for the Galaxy A series models launched in Kenya are,

• The Galaxy A25 5G will cost Ksh50,000 for the 8GB memory and 256 GB storage variant, and the 6 GB memory and 128 GB storage will cost Ksh43,000
• The Galaxy A15 5G 6 GB memory and 128 GB storage will cost Ksh33,000, and the 4 GB memory and 128 GB storage will cost Ksh30,000
• The Galaxy A15 LTE 6 GB memory and 128 GB storage will cost Ksh29,000, and the 4 GB memory and 128 GB storage will cost Ksh27,000
• The Galaxy A05s 6 GB memory and 128 GB storage will cost Ksh26,000, the 4 GB memory and 128 GB storage will cost Ksh24,000 and the 4 GB memory and 64 GB storage will cost Ksh21,000
• The Galaxy A05 4 GB storage and 128 GB memory will cost Ksh19,000 and the 4 GB memory and 64 GB storage will cost Ksh17,000

The Galaxy A25 5G promises an immersive mobile experience with its stunning 6.5" FHD+ Super AMOLED display that provides vibrant colours and sharp contrast.

The 120Hz display also ensures a faster, smoother experience when gaming, scrolling, watching videos and reading articles.

The phone boasts a versatile 50MP OIS camera that shoots clear, bright photos without shaking them.

You can certainly capture life's moments in breathtaking detail with this phone's sophisticated quad camera, including a high-resolution main camera, ultra-wide lens, macro lens, and depth sensor, bringing delightful experiences to everyday entertainment.

In the Galaxy A15 5G, customers will have a fast, reliable, and stylish smartphone that can help them keep all the memorable moments. Every picture and video captured with the Galaxy A15 5G's advanced 50MP triple camera, and all other important files will be safely stored courtesy of the ample 6GB memory and 128GB expandable storage, giving you smooth performance and sufficient space for your digital life.

The Galaxy A15 LTE features a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 90hz display, providing a large screen with brighter and more vivid colours for everyday mobile needs, delivering an affordable, balanced performance and an all-round awesome viewing.

The stylish Galaxy A05s will put all the power in your palm as it gives a clear and vibrant canvas for all content.

Customers will be able to express their creativity and make beautiful memories with the Galaxy A05s' triple-camera system. Besides having access to all the favourite apps and media at hand, users can stay connected throughout the day with the Galaxy A05s' long-lasting battery and enjoy the convenience of 25W fast charging.

For great value from a smartphone, see it all and see it clear with the Galaxy A05. Users will enjoy their favourite games, series, movies, Tik Tok videos and Facebook reels and any other content from the 6.7-inch HD+ display. The phone’s dual camera delivers double the fun as it captures the world at different angles.

The new Galaxy A series smartphones is available across all Samsung brand stores and authorized dealers from 1^st January 2024.

The Galaxy A25 5G, A15 5G and A15 come with Samsung Care+, which offers 12-month protection against accidental screen damage. Customers are urged to register for Samsung Care+ within 30 days of purchase and get cover for 12 months.