This post was inspired by my Mum’s experience trying to get approval from NHIF for an inpatient medical procedure she desperately needs. She is a teacher, and she pays her NHIF dues and a mandatory monthly amount to AON, the insurance provider for teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission. When it became apparent that she would need to be admitted at the hospital, the…
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What does it take for a young woman to start her own business in East Africa? That is the question Kali Media founder Paula Rogo answers in this 7-episode series as she navigates launching her own company. Along the way, she talks to some of East Africa’s most exciting young women entrepreneurs and experts hailing from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. This podcast is like…
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In 2017, I wrote an article about 6 things that every online seller must get right to win, and retain customers. The focus of the article was on the foundational things you must do, such as branding right, and getting a courier who is good with directions. This post, is about something many might consider fickle: the practice I call, “DM for prices”. As I…
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As I type this post, I am stuck on one spot along Langata Road, where I have been for the last 30 minutes. Matatus are on strike, and as expected, there is a lot of traffic. I suppose this is because even people who do not drive daily drove to work this morning. Do not worry, I am not writing as I drive, someone else…
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As I write this, Kenyan companies are celebrating Customer Service Week. I am not yet clued in on the activities of the week, but early this morning, an ISP with whom I constantly fight because of poor service sent me a cheery text: “Dear Customer. We salute you for your loyalty and valuable feedback. Happy CS Week 2018! Thank you for choosing {insert name here}….
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Two months ago, on our way to a meeting, my MD complimented my lip colour and asked for a referral to the shop where I had bought it from. Instead of a physical shop, I quickly sent her an Instagram link. I did not know who owned the shop, had not interacted with them in making the purchase, my only contact was with their motorbike…
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Last week, I had a week-long client assignment, and they had kindly booked me into a 4-star resort just outside Nairobi for this. As much as it was going to be a busy week of training, I was really looking forward to the simple pleasures of a great hotel stay. Even as I write this post, I want to believe that I was the exception to the rule,…
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Plane crashes are rare, so when they happen, they make the news. Authorities ensure that crashes are thoroughly investigated, causes established and that something is done to prevent them in future. Car crashes, however, are treated differently. While they sometimes will make news, we do not investigate much, neither are resources invested to ensure they are eliminated completely. We assume that car crashes are the…
Read MoreThe last couple of months have seen rather discouraging times in our banking sector, with the collapse of Dubai Bank and Imperial Bank, and most recently Chase Bank which is in receivership under the management of KCB. However, it is heartening to see aggressive moves in the market, like the recent launch of Spire Bank. Inspired by the word “Inspire” , Spire Bank says it is here…
Read MoreI have observed that many people who have very strong opinions on who the middle class is and their role in the country do not seem to know exactly who the middle class is. Winnie Odinga’s rant about the middle class brought many of those out of the wood works. Every time there’s a political action, whether demo or elections, we love to blame the middle…
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