In Kenya, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is the chief employer of tutors, tasked with registering, recruiting, employing, and dispatching them to various learning stations in the country in line with the powers outlined by Article 237(2) of the Constitution 2010.
As the principal employer of teachers in charge of their recruitment process to public institutions, TSC manages the salaries of these educators, who are mostly employed under permanent and pensionable terms.
So, every month, teachers employed by this body receive TSC payslips, which are financial statements that show how much the employer paid them, including applicable deductions such as taxes and pension contributions.
TSC uses a type of payroll software called T-Pay, which allows for the download of payslips alongside other third-party check-offs for loan facilities like saccos. It also has a feature for downloading P9 forms and sending salary slips to banks and other financial institutions for the acquisition of loans.
In this article, we’ll show you how to register on the TSC T-Pay portal and view your monthly payslip as a teacher in Kenya:
How to register on T-Pay as a teacher
Truth be said. If you are a teacher in Kenya, you know how overwhelming it can be to queue at TSC offices to ask for your payslip every month. It is draining, without mentioning the extra expenses involved. That is why the Teachers Service Commission introduced T-Pay to automate its payroll system and enable access to TSC payslips online.
However, to register for T-Pay, you must visit TSC offices one last time because, unfortunately, the online registration of teachers on T-Pay was indefinitely stopped in a memo that didn’t state the reason for suspension but a direction for teachers to visit their nearest county office to get onboarded on the TSC online payslip service.
To register for the TSC T-Pay payslip service, visit your nearest TSC office having satisfied the following requirements:
* Must have a National ID card
* Have a KRA PIN
* A document showing your school details
* Birth certificate (not must)
* Active phone number(s)
* Have an email address
* Active bank account
* Have a designation code for identifying your TSC job group
* Must be a registered TSC teacher with a valid number
After submitting these documents at your county TSC office, you will be registered on T-Pay and able to receive your online payslip as a teacher in Kenya periodically, every month.
How to get your TSC payslip online via T-Pay
As a registered teacher by TSC and on the T-Pay service, you can access your latest payslip by following these steps:
2. Enter your TSC/ID number as your username
3. Key in your password
4. Complete the security arithmetic stamp
5. Click the login button in blue to access the T-pay homepage
6. On the left upper screen, click the triple bar (☰) menu icon to expand the options
7. On the T-Pay dropdown list, select ‘Latest Payslip’
Done! Your latest TSC paylip will be displayed for viewing with an option for printing it out. While using T-Pay, you can access past payslips of more than three months by clicking ‘View Payslips’ on the menu.
How do I reset my T-Pay password?
When you forget your T-Pay password, you cannot access your online TSC payslip. Resetting it is a simple process. Here is how to get a new T-Pay password and view your latest TSC payslip:
1. Open Tpay.tsc.go.ke
2. Below the blue log-in icon, click ‘Forgot Your Password?’
3. On the new page, enter your TSC number and click ‘Reset Password’
4. An online password reset form will open, confirm your TSC number and enter the required details – email address, phone number, and an answer to a security question
5. Enter a new password of at least six characters (letters and symbols)
6. Confirm the new password
7. Select ‘Reset Password’
You will receive an email from the Teachers Service Commission confirming the T-Pay password reset. Use your new password to log in on T-Pay to view your latest salary slip.
Azimio la Umoja coalition led by Raila Odinga has today, Tuesday 11, launched a digital signature platform dubbed Tumechoka Citizens’ Initiative, aiming to collect over 15 million signatures from Kenyans in a bid to remove President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, from office.
Speaking during its launch at the SKM Command Centre in Nairobi, the former premier said the Tumechoka drive will be run alongside the manual collection of signatures as they seek to compel the Kenya Kwanza administration to look onto the matters and problems facing the citizens like high cost of living, Finance Act dilemma as well as Constitution breach by compromising legislators and political parties amid allegations of bribery to pass the Finance Bill 2023.
“The digital platform we have unveiled today is complementary to all other efforts and platforms, including civil disobedience, tax boycotts, and defiance that are meant to compel the regime to repeal the Finance Act 2023 and take deliberate steps to lower the cost of living,” Raila said.
Reportedly, the Tumechoka Citizens’ Initiative received over a million signatures just a few minutes after its unveiling. To append your signature at Tumechoka, follow these simple steps:
On the landing page, you will see a consent statement that reads, “Having read and understood the intention of the promoters of this initiative, I hereby Support the Citizens’ initiative to remove from office Mr. William Ruto as President and Mr. Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.”
2. Scroll below the statement to fill in the Tumechoka Form with your ID number, first and last name, plus the names of your county, ward, and constituency, and your phone number
3. Check the small box below the online form to confirm your consent
4. Append your signature and confirm it
5. Click ‘Submit
That is how to sign the Tumechoka initiative by Raila Odinga. You’ll receive a popup message confirming your submission. It takes less than 5 minutes to fill out the form.
Is Tumechoka Citizen Initiative constitutional?
Pursuant to Article 1 (1) of the Kenyan Constitution 2010 – all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only by this Constitution – and Article 2 (The people may exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives) the Tumechoka Citizen Initiative by Raila Odinga is perceived as constitutional and accepted by the Kenyan law.
Due to its popularity, convenience, and ease of transaction owing to its user-friendly interface, more than 435 million people and businesses are using PayPal, according to data from Business of Apps, making it one of the sort after mobile payment services in the world.
PayPal, an online payment system started in 1998, allows users to send and receive money from other PayPal users and credit and debit card holders, in addition to using their balance to make online payments for shopping or other money-requiring activities like subscription services from PayPal supporting entertainment providers such as Netflix.
With the PayPal payment platform, consumers can connect their bank accounts in a pretty straightforward way and use the service to make everyday transactions securely.
This piece will guide you on how to link PayPal to an Equity Bank account. It also contains information on transaction costs and how long the money will take to arrive in your bank account. If you don’t have a Pay Pal account, you can follow these steps to register one in Kenya:
How to set up a PayPal account in Kenya
Creating a PayPal account in Kenya is reasonably a simple task. Most importantly, it is free, and PayPal will not charge you any maintenance fee after opening an account with them. Follow these step-by-step guide to create your PayPal account today:
1. Visit www.paypal.com
2. On the landing page, click ‘Sign Up For Free’
3. Choose either personal or business account and hit the ‘Continue’ button, highlighted in blue
4. Enter your mobile number and click ‘Next’
5. A security code will be sent via SMS. Enter the code on the new page
6. Set up your PayPal profile by entering your personal details like email address and full names
7. Create your PayPal password and click ‘Next’
8. Complete by adding your address, signing PayPal’s User Agreement, and confirming the creation of the new account
Your PayPal account will be created immediately, and you will be ready to send and receive money from friends and family worldwide. For someone to send you money via Paypal, they only need your email address. Never conceal your PayPal password to avoid account phishing and identity theft.
What is the difference between PayPal personal and business account?
PayPal offers two kinds of accounts to its customers; personal and business. Personal accounts are designed for individuals and are limited to minimal transactions like sending and receiving money from friends and family and shopping online.
On the other hand, PayPal business accounts boast various business tools and features; for instance, a customer can operate under a business name (unlike personal accounts where they operate on personal names), and can send and generate invoices to manage financial data.
However, PayPal business accounts are subject to higher transaction fees than PayPal personal accounts.
How to link Equity Bank account to PayPal
As a matter of convenience, holding a balance within your PayPal account in Kenya might not be a wise thing to do because many merchants do not accept PayPal payments but rather from bank accounts or mobile wallets like Mpesa.
So, you might think of adding your Equity bank account to your PayPal to ease your payment activities of sending and receiving money in your bank cards and other lines of credit. Here is the process: a guide to linking your PayPal account to Equity Bank for seamless transactions.
In November 2022, Equity Bank announced a joint partnership with PayPal that could see (then) consumers “get paid from over 200 markets,” as per Mark Mwongela, PayPal’s Regional Director for Enterprise Sales and Business Development in the Middle East and Africa.
How to register for Equity Bank – PayPal account
1. Visit www.equityonline.equitygroupholdings.com/en/access/onboarding
2. Click ‘Get Started’
3. Create your profile by selecting your country, entering your account number, and ID number, and accepting terms of privacy
4. Click ‘Continue’
5. Select the email option and enter your email address for verification
6. Check your mailbox for security code and key in to verify
7. Go to the SMS option, enter your number, and verify
8. Choose a strong password and click ‘Proceed’
Congratulations! You are now registered on Equity Online, and you can move to link your bank account to PayPal.
How to add Equity Bank account to PayPal
After successful registration on Equity Online, follow this procedure to link your bank account to PayPal;
3. Verify your account using preferred modes; email or SMS
4. After logging in, on the landing page, choose ‘PayPal’
5. Enter your PayPal email address
6. A new window will open. Enter your PayPal password to proceed
7. Your Equity Bank accounts will be displayed. Select one to link to PayPal
8. Verify the process by entering the OTP sent via SMS
You have now linked your Equity Bank account to your PayPal, and transacting is possible thereon. You can access PayPal balances on the Equity Online platforms and make withdrawals by clicking the 3 dots on the PayPal icon.
Can you withdraw money from PayPal to Equity Bank for free?
No, Equity Bank Kenya charges a small fee when moving money from your PayPal account to your bank account. For $500 and below, a transaction fee of 1.5% is charged, and for amounts exceeding $1000, a 1.25% processing fee is applicable.
Here are Equity Bank’s transaction costs when withdrawing money from PayPal:
Withdrawal amount from PayPal to Equity Bank
$500 and below
$501 – $1,000
$1,001 – $2,000
$2,001 – $5,000
Above $5,000
Transaction cost
1.5%
1.375%
1.25%
1.125%
1%
N/B: It takes one business day to withdraw money from PayPal to Equity Bank account.
Last time, you tried to call a friend, maybe to help because you were in an emergency, but you were greeted by “Dear customer, you do not have sufficient airtime…” That is a common phenomenon for many people, who always lack airtime or are just out of their way to swindle everything they can from Safaricom; by not paying Okoa Jahazi – this is an isolated case among many.
Safaricom Okoa Jahazi is a credit facility launched on June 14, 2018, to offer airtime loans to prepaid customers at an advance fee of 10% every time they run out of credit or the balance is below Ksh5. However, these days, it is more flexible as one can access for purchase of a product that is above their balance.
The service is open to all Safaricom Prepay subscribers who have a monthly usage of Ksh500 and above by dialing *131# on their phones. After getting a credit advance from Okoa Jahazi, customers are expected to pay their dues within 5 days, lest they get blacklisted from accessing the service.
Despite all these threats, many Kenyans are looking for diverse ways to ‘escape’ Okoa Jahazi and continue using Safaricom’s data and voice services, blaming it on the high cost of living amid skyrocketing prices of various household goods, leaving them at crossroads on whether to pay for their food or mobile bills.
Some have succeeded, while some have not. Because finding sure bet ways of buying minutes and data without paying Okoa Jahazi is difficult! Despite that, we have done some legwork for you. Here are ways of purchasing Safaricom minutes and data bundles without paying Okoa Jahazi:
How to buy Safaricom minutes without paying Okoa Jahazi
Thinking of making a crucial call, but Okoa Jahazi is the barrier? Here is how you can buy minutes despite having Okoa Jahazi debt:
1. Dial *444# on your phone
2. Go to option 11, ‘MORE’
3. Click option 4, ‘Unlock your Gift’
4. Choose your desired minutes package and pay via Mpesa
Through this method, you can buy minutes from your Safaricom line that has Okoa Jahazi without making a repayment.
How to buy Safaricom data bundles without paying Okoa Jahazi
Here is the simplest way of purchasing data bundles from your Safaricom line that has Okoa Jahazi debt:
1. Download Facebook Lite
2. Log in to your Facebook account while using data service from the line you want to make purchases on
3. Switch to Free Mode and click ‘Buy Data’ from the top menu toolbar
4. Choose desired data package as listed in the menu
5. Make data purchases using the Mpesa option
Note: Safaricom will only deduct data charges, without adding your Okoa Jahazi debt to the total payable cost.
For a majority of students in Kenya, the element of inequality is synonymous when it comes to contrasting their income with their outgoings.
Student life tends to be one of the best moments in our lives because it is where we not only lay a foundation stone for a successful career but also want to make money to activate our social life, pay student debt, or perhaps finance our way through college or university.
Making money as a student may be tricky because you have a lot on your plate: you need to attend classes, complete class assignments, study for upcoming exams, and complete group projects, but you still need money.
So, how can you make money as a student in Kenya? Cash-strapped college or university students take heart: here are the 5 best ways you can make money without sacrificing your studies or sleep.
1. Start your own business
Think outside the box and spot a gap in the market close to where you study. Conducting market research will tell you if you can turn your idea into an enterprise that will make you earn money as a student in Kenya.
Consider low start-ups which will not stretch your pocket as it will be easier to maintain your cash flow even with student loans. Some business ideas may include opening a food kiosk, an online thrift shop, or a printing business (cyber) where you will be generating copies of crucial documents like exam cards.
2. E-commerce: Sell goods online
Online marketplaces in Kenya are worth millions of shillings. They provide a listing for all items for sale and give customers a seamless online shopping experience and delivery services.
To venture into the e-commerce market as a student, you need small startup capital to purchase items like perfumes and other fast-going products for sale via your blog or established websites like Jumia, Jiji, and Facebook Marketplace, among others.
The advantage of selling online using the already present marketplaces is that it will cut the cost of purchasing a domain and designing by integrating customer-facing profiles to meet your business niche.
To be successful in e-commerce, opt to include discounted sales plus free shipping and introduce a loyalty program to your customers in your business operations.
3. Freelance work
Freelance jobs are one of the best ways of making money online as a student in Kenya. Think about the set of skills you possess: you may be a good graphic designer, social media manager, writer, or just a copywriter.
Many companies are now embracing technology, and an appetite for good content for their website is on the rise. As a freelancer, you will enjoy flexibility, freedom, and competitive earnings if you are a top talent with hands-on skills in a particular field.
There are a number of sites to find freelance jobs in Kenya, like Freelancer, Upwork, Designhill, Toptal, Behance, etc. You only need an email address and an active phone number to sign up on these sites.
4. Sell or rent digital ad space
Many companies, as well as customers, have gone digital in Kenya, thanks to the internet. The majority have discontinued traditional marketing because, with the birth of social media and blogs, target marketing is really the thing as you get to people who are likely to be interested in what you sell.
If you have an online presence with good traffic (on your blog), you can sell ad spaces for Responsive Search Ads (RSAs), Dynamic Search Ads (DSAs), Image Ads, App Promotion Ads, and Video Ads and receive compensation for doing so.
Students with many social media followers on social sites like Twitter and Instagram are the price, and many brands are hunting them to promote their products on their walls. One good place to find paying Twitter gigs in Kenya as a student is SponsoredTweets.
5. Tap into the E-Book business
Many still think you must sit too close to Ngugi wa Thiong’o, the renowned Kenyan novelist known for the bestseller Decolonising the Mind (1986), to learn his prose and high jinks to become an accomplished author.
But this is not the case. The internet has changed a lot of things. Writing, publishing, and selling a book is now easy, but it is in electronic form – so it’s an E-Book. With sites like Amazon Kindle, creating an e-book is just a tap away: converting a text document on your phone or laptop to an E-Book and uploading it on the platform.
To make money as a student by selling E-books, start by choosing a topic you know about to write with authority and passion. There is a range of topics to choose from; mystery, travel guides, romance, history, technology, religion.., and you have the free will to pick out any of these and tailor your tomes to fit specific niche markets.
As an E-Book publisher, you can sell your products on your website or through Amazon Kindle. The benefit of using this e-reader is that you will get plenty of customers because marketing is done by Amazon, a globally recognized e-commerce site.
You can also share your E-Book link on social media platforms to cast your net wide to reach more potential buyers.
6. License and sell your photos
There is an increased demand for digital content. That is a fact. But did you know that you can sell your photos and earn money in Kenya? Well, all you need to do is upload quality photos that you’ve taken yourself on platforms like Alamy, SmugMug Pro, iStock Photo, Shutterstock, and Stocksy and earn a small fee whenever anyone wants to use them on their apps, websites, or for advertisement purposes. Now you know!
Key takeaway – These are the best ways to make money as a student in Kenya but don’t expect money to start rolling in seconds after venturing into the stated avenues. Be adaptable to market trends, understand your customers, leverage social media platforms, focus on established sources of revenue, practice fiscal discipline, and hire the right people to realize the steady growth of your enterprise. Remember, it takes determination and sacrifice to make money and build wealth for financial stability.
PayPal of Paypal Holdings Inc is an American multinational financial technology service that enables money transfer electronically, an alternative to the traditional paper methods.
With a PayPal account in Kenya, you can send and receive money from almost everywhere in the world with affordable transfer and withdrawal rates. PayPal supports withdrawal methods to banks and Mpesa, but many Kenyan users opt to use Mpesa because of its convenience, owing to many Safaricom outlets located countrywide.
This article will take you through how to withdraw funds from PayPal to your Mpesa mobile wallet, wait time, and applicable fees:
How to withdraw money from PayPal to Mpesa 2023
To transfer funds from PayPal, you must have a registered PayPal account with money and must have linked your Mpesa mobile number to the PayPal account. Here is how to go about it:
2. Click ‘Get Started’
3. In the new window, log in using your email and password
4. Select ‘Withdraw from PayPal’
5. Your PayPal account balance will show below an edit box to input the amount you wish to withdraw in USD. Enter the amount
6. Choose ‘Continue to Withdraw’
7. You will be redirected to a new page with the inputted amount converted to KES
8. Confirm and complete the withdrawal of the money
Before moving money from PayPal to Mpesa, ensure your Mpesa mobile wallet can receive the funds because Mpesa can hold a maximum of Ksh300,000. Also, remember that the highest amount you can transfer from PayPal to Mpesa per withdrawal is Ksh150,000.
What is the cost of withdrawing funds from PayPal to Mpesa? PayPal charges customers a 3% conversion fee for the amount converted from USD to KES. For instance, if you withdraw $21 and it is exchanged for Ksh3,000, the withdrawal fee will be 3% of Ksh3,000, which is Ksh90.
How long does it take for PayPal to transfer to your Mpesa?
When withdrawing money from PayPal to Mpesa wallet, the estimated time will be displayed before confirming the transaction – this is usually 2 hours at minimum to 3 days, depending on the transactional value. Literally, the more money, the longer the wait time.
To check previous and pending transactions, visit the Transaction History page on your PayPal account.
How to transfer money from Mpesa to Paypal in minutes
Well, you’ve learned how to withdraw money from a Paypal account to Mpesa in Kenya, and it is time to look at how you can add funds to your Paypal account using the same Safaricom mobile wallet.
Transferring money from Mpesa to PayPal is even easier; because of the instant and secure online transfer option with no paperwork, unlike most retail banks. Here is how to top up your PayPal account from Mpesa:
1. Go to www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa
2. Click ‘Top Up to PayPal’
3. Enter the amount you would like to add to PayPal from Mpesa in USD
4. Click ‘Calculate’ to convert the funds to KES using the displayed FX rate
5. Go to the Mpesa app or sim toolkit, Lipa na Mpesa, paybill option
6. Enter PayPal Mpesa paybill number 800088
7. Input your phone number linked to PayPal as the account number
8. Enter the amount, Mpesa PIN and click send
Your PayPal account will receive the funds from Mpesa in minutes, and you will receive a text message and an email confirming the transaction. A 4% conversion fee is charged when topping up your PayPal account from Mpesa. Customers also bear Mpesa paybill charges when moving money.
If you find yourself tight on cash before your subsequent earnings and need to deal with an emergency, it might be worth researching the best loan applications in Kenya.
Many Kenyans are financially unprepared to cover unforeseen expenses: Only 24% save for emergencies, according to a report by Enwealth Financial Services and Strathmore University social security study group, and most individuals cannot access loans from mainstream banks and other financial institutions.
Thankfully, money-borrowing applications have bridged this void by providing quick and seamless loans to borrowers of diverse financial backgrounds. Want to borrow money from loan apps in Kenya? Conduct an in-depth examination of your choice of apps because of many unscrupulous lenders in the credit market. This might save you a tear.
There’s no shortage of loan applications in Kenya for those needing cash for emergencies, as in instant loans. In fact, there is a sea of options to explore. To help you find the best loan app that is right for your situation, compare our selection of top apps that will lend you money in 2023:
Genuine money borrowing apps of 2023 (Mpesa)
The following are the best and most legitimate loan apps in Kenya. They offer a reliable way of accessing fast cash without heavy borrowing costs or hard credit score checks.
These top picks for money lending apps were compiled based on customer reviews, ease of loan access, customer relations, interest rates, and transparency.
Which are the best loan apps in Kenya?
Best overall: Tala
Tala lists as the number one loan app in Kenya because of its low-interest charge starting from 0.3% on loans per day. It also offers instant cash disbursement without a rigorous background check on credit history. That is a plus.
For customers with bad credit, Tala offers loans of between Ksh1000 to Ksh2000, and upon timely repayment, the borrowing cap can grow to Ksh50,000, the maximum limit.
The Tala loan app has no origination or prepayment fees. However, defaulting or late repayments will lead to blacklisting and subsequent cancellation of your limit.
Tala was founded by Shivani Siroya in 2011 and launched in Kenya in 2014. It currently operates in the Philippines, India, Kenya, and Mexico.
Best for large loan amounts: Branch
Branch is an innovative loan app, sort of a digital bank, that anyone can borrow money from. It prides itself on providing the highest mobile loan in Kenya – Ksh300,000.
It is the best loan application for those seeking to fund big-ticket purchases or expenses like vehicle repair, home improvement, or medical bills. The minimum amount you can borrow on the Branch loan app is Ksh500.
The monthly interest rate of the Branch App (1.7% – 17.6%) is also reasonably lower but varies depending on various factors like repayment behavior after taking a loan. In addition, it has a flexible loan term of 9 to 52 weeks, subject to the loaned amount.
Aside from lending money, Branch also offers trailblazing budgeting and savings tools. Branch’s loan app high-yielding savings products are Flexi Savings with an interest rate of 9% p.a and Target Savings of 15% p.a, a minimum deposit of Ksh10, and one month to a year maturity period.
Best for repayment flexibility: Zenka Loan App
Zenka Loan App lets you borrow money from Ksh500 to Ksh80,000, after an upward review from Ksh30,000, at a competitive interest rate of 9-39% and a repayment term of up to 61 days.
First-time customers on the Zenka lending platform can access their loan limits interest-free when they repay within five days.
Additionally, Zenka charges a commission of 5% on principal amounts as a processing fee. But why is Zenka loan flexible? Here is the reason: Zenka allows customers to pay their loan in two installments in a particular loan term without progressive interest charges or opt for an adjustable repayment period under the ZenkaFlexi option, in which the payback timeframe is pushed to 12 months.
Secondly, with Zenka, one of the best loan apps in Kenya, one can apply for additional loan amounts under the condition that the active loan is below the credit limit.
What happens if you fail to pay Zenka’s loan? A 1% penalty rate will be charged on your outstanding loan from the lapse of the loan term. Ensure you pay your loan on time to increase your credit viability and Zenka loan limit.
Zenka operates under Zenka Digital Limited (Zenka Finance), which was started in 2018 by two Polish investors; Loukas Notopoulos, the founder, and Krzysztof Łodykowski, the co-founder, both from Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
Best for small loan amounts: Patron
Patron is the best lender app offering small loan amounts for covering minor expenses to consumers who have bad credit. With the Patron cash advance app, you can get loans of Ksh500 to Ksh7,000 at an interest rate of 1% per day.
Even better, Patron has a fair repayment term of 60 days for short-duration funding and 90 days for long-term loans. Also, loan deposit to Mpesa is instant, making it a top pick for persons with urgent financial needs.
Patron loan app Kenya is owned by Russian businessman Mikhail Lyapin, a cloud technology expert from Murmansk, the world’s biggest city beyond the Arctic Circle in the northwestern part of the largest country globally.
Mikhail Lyapin – founder, Patrol loan app.
Best for low fees: Zash Loan
Zash Loan is a consumer lending platform of Zillions Credit Limited Company, offering personal loans of Ksh500 to Ksh50,000 under minimum credit score requirements.
It is one of the best loan apps in Kenya because it promises instant disbursement of emergency loans with a 1% daily interest rate. Zash Loan is our pick for the best low fees loan apps category due to its discount marketing strategy of redeemable coupons that boosts consumers’ loan limits during loan applications and repayment coupons that downsize the loan figure during loan settlement.
Further, when a borrower fails to pay the loan at the stipulated date, they can arrange for an extension with Zash Loan, and the outstanding loan accrues no interest during that grace period.
However, defaulting on Zash loans without communicating with the creditor automatically leads to a 2% penalty fee on the unpaid loan for the first 15 days from the due date and a rise to 3% on the following days.
Best for transparency: LendPlus
LendPlus is a fintech company that offers personal loans from Ksh500 to Ksh30,000 with terms from five to thirty days at a daily interest rate of 2%. This interest rate might be a bit high, but with LendPlus, it is possible to extend your loan tenure, provided you pay the built-up interest on your borrowed amount.
Also, when you borrow funds from LendPlus, there’s no origination or processing fee, making it even easier to access emergency funds.
LendPlus is operated by Aventus Technology Limited of Aventus Group, a Lithuanian investment company run by Andrejus Trofimovas.
Andrejus Trofimovas – CEO Aventus Group.
Initially, his brother Igoris Trofimovas was the biggest shareholder at LendPlus with a 50% stake in its funding provider PeerBerry – but Igoris sold all the shares to Andrejus in 2022, making him the principal share owner amongst Vytautas Olšauskas and Ivan Butov with 25% shares each.
Best for online services: Timiza
Unlike most money-borrowing apps on this list, the Timiza loan application allows you to pay bills, make insurance payments, and airtime top-ups, aside from offering loans of up to Ksh150,000 to even borrowers with thin credit.
Timiza is a product by Absa Bank, and it is accessible through mobile applications from various app marketplaces or by dialing *848# on your phone. Timiza loans have a 1.56% monthly interest rate and a 5% origination fee, with a repayment period of 30 days.
If you neglect to make loan payments, your loan term will be extended by one month, but a 5% charge, calculated from your outstanding balance, will be added to your open loan.
What you should know about apps that lend money in Kenya
Before you apply for a loan in Kenya through mobile apps, ensure you do your market analysis to avoid falling victim to scammers who pose as viable credit lenders when they want to fleece all your cash.
Recently, there has been a spike in predatory lenders making all sorts of advertisements, especially paid ads, on socials like Facebook and YouTube, in a bid to prove their legitimacy. Many people get duped by this strategy. Watch out!
How can you identify a scam loan app in Kenya? Here are the top 3 tips;
* Scam loan applications have no website. If it has, the website has no FAQs web section
* Predatory money lenders ask for a fee before you access loans, after which they say you don’t qualify for a limit
* Dumb loan apps mostly have a less than 3.2-star rating on application stores. This is also an indicator of poor lending behavior like high interest rates and calling relatives. Run!
N/B: Read customer reviews before downloading any loan applications and procedurally applying for a loan.
StarTimes is one of the cheaper media streamers around – there is a good chance you’ve heard about it and wondered what all the fuss is about, especially after catching the wind of trending and exciting shows like Hello Mr. Right via rumor mills.
Well, don’t fret! It is the right time to learn about StarTimes, its bouquets, and its costs in Kenya. To help you get started with the service, in this article, you will find out a breakdown of everything you need to learn about StarTimes, including pricing on different plans, channels, and content.
What is StarTimes?
StarTimes is a digital TV operator owned by Pang Xinxing, the chairman and Founder of the StarTimes Group headquartered in Beijing, China. It was started in 1988 but entered the African market in 2002 with advanced television products that use a signal-relay satellite platform, a Direct-to-Home satellite TV platform (DTH), a digital terrestrial TV platform (DTT), and an Over-the-Top platform (OTT).
Up to today, StarTimes has amassed over 30 million subscribers in the continent and counting…in 2019, it was awarded the Consumer Top Brand for driving innovation in the digital broadcasting industry in Kenya by the Consumers Federation Of Kenya (COFEK) for being a key partner in enabling a sustainable transition from analog to digital.
Is StarTimes Cheap?
Yes. Compared to other streaming services and pay-TV providers in the Kenyan market, StarTimes comes out as the lowest with its cheapest plan, Nyota, going for Ksh299 per month, showing 29 television channels.
StarTimes deals, packages, and prices in Kenya
StarTimes comes with different price tiers on each bouquet for affordability and flexibility, hence the best digital television provider for budget shoppers. It has Nyota, Basic, Classic, StarTime Nova, Smart, Supa, and StarTimes Chinese subscription plans.
These are categorized as either antenna (DTT) and dish pay-TV (DTH) packages, with the latter being more expensive because of its powerful transmitters that cover a wide area – not the number of channels.
What are StarTimes subscription plans and prices in Kenya?
Bouquet
Monthly price
TV type
Nyota
Ksh299
Antenna
Basic
Ksh649
Antenna
Classic
Ksh999
Antenna
StarTimes Nova
Ksh499
Dish pay-TV
StarTimes Smart
Ksh1,059
Dish pay-TV
StarTimes Super
Ksh1,599
Dish pay-TV
StarTimes Chinese
Ksh1,999
Dish pay-TV
StarTimes on-demand TV channels 2023
StarTimes’ library of fun television channels are like endless; it has 630+ authorized channels that air varied content from news, sports, movies, fashion, and reality shows and a loaded assortment of over 40 self-operated channels like World Football, Novela, KungFu, Sino Drama, Series, Guide, Movies, and Bollywood, in addition to many others.
What channels are available on StarTimes Kenya?
DTT Nyota bouquet – 29 TV channels
StarTimes Nyota package costs Ksh299 per month and has 29 channels:
* AMC Movies
* JimJam
* PPP TV
* E-Stars
* Iqraa
* BTV Kenya
* CGTN
* Al Jazeera
* ST Sports Focus
* Citizen TV
* ST Zone
* KBC
* ST Gospel
* GOD
* Ebru TV
* Njata TV
* MBCI
* Family TV
* Times TV
* Rembo TV
* ST Kung fu
* ST Sino Drama
* K24
* Elimu TV
* NTV Kenya
* KTN News
* Sanyuka TV
* Border TV
* KTN Home
DTT Basic bouquet – 38 TV channels
StarTimes basic bouquet costs Ksh649 per month and has the following channels;
* ST Afrik
* BBC World News
* e.tv
* Star Life
* ESPN
* ST Bollywood
* Star Plus
* ST Rise
* Sky News
* Toonami
* KARTOON
* PBO
* TNT Africa
* Real Madrid TV
* Nickelodeon
* Zee Cinema
* Da Vinci
* ST Sports Focus
* Clouds TV
* CGTN Documentary
* CNC World
* Triple P
* M6 Music
* ST Sports Life
* ST Sports Arena
* Emmanuel TV
* TBN Yetu
* Africa News
* ST Yoruba
* Fox Life
* NGW
* ST Naija
* Trace Mziki
* RT
* Zee Bollymovies
* ST Kids
* ST Novela E
* MUTV
DTT Classic bouquet – 62 TV channels
To subscribe to StarTimes Classic bouquet, you must pay Ksh999 subscription fees. It has the following 62 channels;
* Zee One
* ST Adepa
* ST Mania
* JimJam
* BBC World News
* Bloomberg
* e.tv
* Star Life
* Fox News
* ESPN
* ESPN 2
* Colors
* ST Nollywood Plus
* ST Bollywood
* Star Gold
* ST Movies Plus
* Star Plus
* TDC
* E-Stars
* Nickelodeon
* Iqraa
* Zee Cinema
* CGTN
* Al Jazeera
* Baby TV
* Da Vinci
* ST Swahili
* ST Sports Focus
* Citizen TV
* CTN
* Clouds TV
* ST Zone
* ST Sports Premium
* KBC
* CGTN Documentary
* GOD
* Ebru Africa
* Njata TV
* MBCI
* CNC World
* Family TV
* Times TV
* ST Kasi Music
* ST Sports Arena
* ST Kungfu
* ST Sino Drama
* Emmanuel TV
* K24
* E!
* Elimu TV
* Ebony Life
* Fox Life
* NGC
* Border TV
* ST World Football HD
* Trace Mziki
* ST Novela E Plus
* ST Kids
* DreamWorks
* CBeebies
* ST Novela E
* KTN Home
DTH Nova bouquet – 43 TV channels
StarTimes Nova bouquet is a satellite dish TV with 43 TV channels for Ksh499 per month. Here are ST Nova channels;
* AMC Movies
* Madani Channel
* Wasafi TV
* JimJam
* Kass TV
* Kiss TV Ken
* Lolwe TV
* PPP TV
* e.tv
* ST Dadin Kowa
* E-Stars
* TVC News
* Iqraa
* BTV Kenya
* CGTN
* Al Jazeera
* Dove TV
* Da Vinci
* ST Swahili
* ST Sports Focus
* TBC1
* Star TV
* ST Zone
* KBC
* CGTN Documentary
* Mindset Learn
* ST Gospel
* Ebru Africa
* Channel Ten
* CNC World
* Rembo TV
* CCTV 4
* ST Kungfu
* K24
* KTN
* Elimu TV
* NTV UGA
* NTV Kenya
* KTN News
* Inooro TV
* Sanyuka TV
* Border TV
* KTN Home
DTH StarTimes Smart bouquet – 53 TV channels
StarTimes Smart bouquet goes for Ksh1,059 a month with 53 channels for uncapped entertainment; *
* Zee One
* ST Adepa
* BE TV
* ST Mania
* JimJam
* ST Afrik
* BBC World News
* e.tv
* Star Life
* ESPN
* ST Africa
* ST Bollywood
* DW
* ST Rise
* Canal J
* Toonami
* KARTOON
* TNT Africa
* ITV
* Real Madrid TV
* Nickelodeon
* Nigezie
* Zee Cinema
* EWTN
* WAP TV
* Al Jazeera
* ST Sports Focus
* EATV
* Clouds TV
* Face TV
* Salam TV
* France 24 E
* ST Kasi Music
* M6 Music
* ST Sports Life
* ST Sino Drama
* Emmanuel TV
* E!
* TBN Yetu
* Africa News
* ST Yoruba
* Fox Life
* NGW
* NDTV 24X7
* ST Sports Premium HD
* ST World Football HD
* ST Naija
* Trace Mziki
* RT
* Zee Bollymovies
* ST Kids
* ST Novela E
* MUTV
DTH StarTimes Super bouquet – 20 TV channels
Startimes Super bouquet is the second most expensive tier going for Ksh1,599 a month and airing 20 channels which are mostly international.
Here are Super bouquet channels;
* Bloomberg
* Fox News
* ESPN 2
* Colors
* MSNBC
* ST Nollywood Plus
* Star Gold
* ST Movies Plus
* Star Plus
* TDC
* PBO
* Baby TV
* ST Sports Premium
* Classica
* Ebony Life
* NGC
* ST Novela E Plus
* Glow TV
* DreamWorks
* CBeebies
DTH Chinese bouquet – 22 TV channels
StarTimes is the only digital TV service provider with a specific set box that airs 90% of Chinese content. StarTimes Chinese bouquet costs Ksh1,999 per month and has the following channels;
* CCTV 13
* CCTV 6
* CCTV 9
* ST Sports Focus
* ST Sports Premium
* 福建卫视 (Fujian TV)
* 浙江卫视 (Zhejiang TV)
* CCTV 娱乐 (CCTV Entertainment)
* China Movies Channel
* 东方卫视 (Dragon TV)
* Hunan World
* 江苏卫视 (Jiangsu TV)
* 北京卫视 (Beijing TV)
* 天津卫视 (Tianjin TV)
* PHOENIX INFO
* CCTV 4
* CTI Asia
* 凤凰CNE
* ST Kungfu
* ST World Football HD
* 南方卫视 (Southern TV)
* 中国影视 (China Movie and Television)
How do you pay for the StarTimes package via Mpesa?
To pay your StarTimes subscription, follow these steps;
1. Go to Mpesa on your phone
2. Select the ‘Lipa na Mpesa’ paybill option
3. Enter StarTimes business number 585858
4. Enter your twelve-digit smartcard number as the account number
5. Enter the amount payable for your desired bouquet
6. Input Mpesa PIN and send
Your StarTimes subscription will be activated automatically. If you have any queries or problems, don’t hesitate to contact customer care via 0719077077 or their social channels.
ENA Coach buses are a convenient and cheap way to travel around Kenya, with plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way as it is connected to most cities and towns in the country.
Driven by the company’s mission, to offer world-class transportation services in an innovative way while harnessing the use of technology to delight, retain and defend clients, according to their website, ENA Coach has been a safe and reliable traveling partner with high standards and morals since it began operations in 2010.
ENA Coach’s route network covers over 37 stations distributed across Kenya in all counties with a 24-hour service. Read on to find out more about this leading public transport provider that boasts convenience and affordability.
Where does ENA Coach bus operate?
ENA Coach buses operate countrywide, and booking offices are located in the following towns and cities:
ENA Coach headquarters is at KPCU Building (Wakulima House), ground floor along Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi.
ENA Coach online booking process
Follow these steps to catch the ENA Coach bus for an intriguing tour to your destination:
1. Visit the ENA Coach website www.enacoach.co.ke
2. On the top site area with a white background, select ‘From’
3. Enter your area of departure or station
4. Click ‘To’ to input your destination
5. Move rightwards to the drop-down number menu to enter the number of passengers you are booking for, if any
6. On the box with the calendar icon, give your travel date
7. Hit ‘Search’
You will be redirected to a new page showing the number of buses available on the selected date, their departure time, the number of unbooked seats, and the payable fare.
8. Check your preferred bus and click ‘View Seats’
9. Select a seat and confirm your pick and drop points
10. Click ‘Continue’
A lightbox popup will appear with instructions to sign in with your email, sign in to your ENA Coach account or continue as a guest. If you are new on the site, select ‘Continue as a Guest’ to open a new subpage and continue with the online booking process.
11. On the new subpage, enter primary passenger details like email, name, gender, age, country, Mpesa number, and ID card details
12. Confirm payable fare and click ‘Proceed to Pay’
To complete the payment, you will receive a prompt from MPESA on your phone number. Enter your pin to confirm the transaction. Congratulations! That is how to book an ENA Coach bus online. You will receive an SMS with the ticket details used when taking your trip.
ENA Coach tickets are printed online by visiting their website or clicking here, logging the ticket and phone number in respective edit boxes, and selecting ‘Print Ticket.’
Can you book ENA Coach bus via iAbiri app?
Yes. Another way to get your ENA Coach bus ticket online is through the digital booking platform iAbiri, which is available for download on Google Play. However, the easiest way to access the iAbiri application is through the Mpesa app.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to book an ENA Coach bus using the iAbiri app:
1. Download the Mpesa app on Google Play or App Store
2. Sign in using your Safaricom number and Mpesa PIN
3. On the homepage section, navigate to ‘Transport & Travel’
4. Click on the iAbiri app to launch the mini program
5. Go to ‘Book a Ticket’ to open a new app page
6. Enter your point of departure, destination, and date
7. Select ‘Search Bus’
8. You will see available ENA Coach buses; choose one
9. Select your preferred seat and confirm the pick and drop-off location
10. Enter your passenger info on the new app window and proceed to pay your bus fare
You will receive a confirmation message from iAbiri with your e-ticket details. This is used when boarding the ENA Coach bus.
Remember, ENA Coach buses can also be booked in person by visiting their nearest office near your locality. However, the online booking process is easy as it saves time and removes the bottlenecks of extra traveling costs related to physical booking.
How much is ENA Coach bus fare from Nairobi to upcountry?
ENA Coach buses travel from Nairobi to different parts of the country, rural areas like Kisii, Awasi, Yala, Maseno, and Sotik, among others, daily. Check the table below to learn more about ENA Coach prices from Nairobi:
Destination (from Nairobi)
ENA Coach bus fare
Busia
Ksh1,500
Bondo
Ksh1,500
Usenge
Ksh1,500
Mbale
Ksh1,500
Bungoma
Ksh1,500
Kapsabet
Ksh1,500
Sirare
Ksh1,300
Mbita
Ksh1,300
Kisii
Ksh1,300
Kehancha
Ksh1,300
Nyandorera
Ksh1,500
Kisumu
Ksh1,500
Migori
Ksh1,300
Who owns ENA Coach buses?
ENA Coach is run by ENA Investments Limited, a company started by businessman Evans Nyagaka Anyona, who hails from Riabigutu in Kisii County in 2008.
ENA Coach owner, Evans Nyagaka Anyona.
Initially, the buses and shuttles were known as Transline Sacco but rebranded between 2008 and 2018, when Anyona decided to diversify his investment portfolio. Richard Mogire is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ENA Coach.
Why ENA? The name was derived from the acronym of the owner E-vans N-yagaka A-nyona (ENA). Now you know.
Traveling by train in Kenya can be the most scenic way to see the magnificent views of the parts of the country where the railroads crisscross have to offer. It is also kind of romantic, nostalgic, and most importantly, money-saving as for long, train rides have been known to be cheaper than cars or planes.
Kenya’s rail services are managed by the state corporation Kenya Railways since its establishment by the Act of Parliament (Cap 397) in 1978 to provide efficient and safe rail services, as per its mission.
For many years, the rail sector had been on its deathbed due to inadequate funds to revamp infrastructure, lack of well-defined regulatory policies, and competition from other modes of transport, owing to its reliability. However, after 2017, upon completion of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), significant developments have been noted.
The Kenyan government partnered with the Chinese through China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to construct SGR as part of flagship projects geared towards the ambitious economic master plan Vision 2030 that seeks to make the country a middle-income and industrialized nation by 2030.
The construction of SGR kicked off in December 2017 and was opened for operation on May 31, 2017, by ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta. The SGR then took its maiden trip with the President aboard. It was available for public booking from the next day, June 1, a public holiday – Madaraka Day – hence ‘Madaraka Express.’
Since then, the SGR has been a convenient traveling option for many heading to Mombasa from Nairobi, and vice versa because the train journey takes approximately 5-6 hours, compared to a bus ride which takes nearly 8 hours or even more.
Also, the Madaraka Express has convenient booking and payment methods aside from taking passengers on a fabled journey as it saunters quaint towns like Voi and Mtito Andei, and Tsavo National Park.
Want to enjoy some of these? Read on to learn more about SGR, how to book your train ride, departure time, fares, and more:
The best ways to book SGR train tickets
Getting your hands on SGR train tickets and finally heading down the tracks is easy. You can get your rail pass via USSD, an online booking platform, or in person:
How to book SGR ticket using USSD
Follow these steps to get your SGR ticket using USSD;
1. Dial SGR’s USSD code on your phone – *639#
2. Choose a train of your choice
3. Choose your route by giving the point of departure and destination
4 Give your date of travel
5. Select your preferable compartment as either first or economy class
6. Submit details of additional passengers if there are any
7. Enter your name as it appears on your ID or passport
8. Submit to pay
An automated popup Mpesa message will appear on the phone screen, prompting you to confirm the payable amount and then enter your mobile wallet PIN to process the payment.
Done! You’ve booked your SGR train ticket via USSD, and Madaraka Express will send you a message with your e-ticket number, showing the departure time, date, seat number, and destination.
Note: Do not delete the Mpesa message. It can be used to print out your SGR ticket before boarding the train.
How to book SGR train tickets online
Madaraka Express (SGR) leverages the advanced technological system to give its customers an experiential online booking process that is time-saving and reliable as it operates 24/7.
How do you book an SGR train online?
1. Visit metickets.krc.co.ke
2. On the top page menu, you will see ‘Madaraka Express – Online Booking’
3. Go to ‘Train Type’ and select either Inter County, Express, or Suswa train
4. Choose your departure location, destination, and date
5. Click ‘Book a Train’
6. On the next page, add details of those you are traveling with, if any
7. Select your coach type as either first or economy class
8. Your payable SGR fare will be displayed. Click ‘Book a Train’
9. On the new window, add passenger details – full name, ID number, gender, and nationality
10. Enter your Mpesa number and hit ‘Proceed to Payment’
You will be directed to the Reservation Details page, where you will confirm all the presented details before accepting the terms and conditions and paying the train fare.
If you click the ‘Pay Now’ option, a Mpesa popup message will be sent to your phone to input your PIN and authorize the transaction. There is also a ‘Pay Later’ alternative, whereby customers have a 30 mins period of paying for the SGR train ticket after making an online booking.
How do you pay your SGR train fare via Mpesa after booking?
1. Go to the sim toolkit and select Mpesa on your phone
2. Navigate to ‘Lipa na Mpesa’
3. Select Paybill
4. Enter Madaraka Express (SGR) paybill number 809888
5. Enter the account number 7806842
6. Input your train fare amount
7. Enter your PIN to confirm
Go back to Madaraka Express online ticketing site and refresh to check your payment status and access your SGR ticket.
How to book SGR train tickets physically
The last way of obtaining SGR train tickets is by getting them over the counter, in person. You can book SGR by visiting the nearest Madaraka Express Passenger Service station. However, this can be tedious as it can be hindered by long queues and sometimes, lack of important information like whether a certain train has been fully booked or not.
What is the cost of traveling by SGR?
A Madaraka Express (SGR) ticket from Nairobi Terminus to Mombasa costs Ksh1,000 for adults and Ksh500 for kids on the economy coach, while on the first class, it is Ksh3,000 and Ksh1,500 for kids between the ages 3 to 11.
Passengers should walk to the train station 1 hour (60 minutes) before the scheduled departure time and board the train 11 minutes before the set time.
Does a 3-year-old need an SGR ticket?
No, Madaraka Express children’s fare policy classifies persons below 11 years as kids. However, guardians of those below the age of 3 are not required to purchase train tickets as they travel free of charge in the company of a parent or guardian.
On the other hand, for children between the ages of 4-11 to travel on the SGR train, parents and guardians must pay a train ticket which usually costs 50% of the adult fare. Those above 12 years pay for a rail pass equivalent to adult fare.
What is SGR’s luggage policy?
Getting you and your baggage to your destination is a priority for Madaraka Express. The maximum weight of luggage allowed on the SGR is 30 kilograms or an equivalent measuring 2 meters in height by 1 meter in breadth and 1 meter in width.
If you lost your items on SGR, you must post a claim with the Madaraka Express team within 30 days from the incident date.
How many passengers does Madaraka Express carry?
The SGR passenger train carries 1,096 people, and its maximum speed is 120km/hr.
Is there food on SGR trains?
Yes, passengers can purchase snacks and freshly prepared meals on the onboard menu. NAS Servair Kenya is a company that provides catering services with food-for-purchase options on the Madaraka Express train.
Concluding, take note that you cannot travel with pets aboard the SGR trains because they can pollute train spaces and cause discomfort to other passengers. For more information about Madaraka Express, call 0709388887 for general inquiries and complaints, 0709388888 for bookings, or email info@krc.co.ke.
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