Google appoints Kenya manager

Mr Joseph Mucheru has been appointed Google Kenya's country manager, completing reorganisation of the firm, which began at the height of a data poaching scandal.

Prior to his new appointment, he headed the conglomerate's operations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

His position as regional head has been filled by Google Israel's managing director, Mr Meir Brand. The new appointments will come into effect on April 1.

"I have decided to handle Kenya. The regional role was administratively heavy and I want to grow the Kenyan market," Mr Mucheru told Daily Nation in a telephone interview.

Mr Mucheru has been performing the duties of a country manager in an acting capacity since January when the former Kenya boss, Ms Olga Arara, left Google days after the internet firm launched investigations into the data poaching scandal.

A Kenyan online business directory, Mocality, accused Google in January of fraudulently accessing its database and using information to deceive clients into buying sites under the Getting Kenyan Businesses Online.

The changes are expected to inject confidence in the firm that had come under attack at a time when it is increasing activity in the region to bring more people online, now that there is availability of relatively cheaper and faster internet.

Ms Olga Arara was the first casualty of the scandal, and according to Mr Mucheru, the only employee to face the axe as a result Mocality saga.

"We have not retrenched any employees since Ms Arara left the company," he said.

By Nation Correspondent

State seeks ways around fibre cuts

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 19 – The government says it is building a system of fibre optic rings that will carry communication traffic in the event of a network disruption.

Information Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo says in case the fibre is severed, communications would be automatically re-routed around the failed area by way of the redundant ring thus ensuring that connectivity is not affected.

"We will begin to use different methods such as what is called the 'ring method' where if one part of the cable is cut, then traffic is re-routed to the other side of the ring immediately," he said of the system that would reduce network disruptions to clients in Nairobi and Mombasa.

The system is said to have 'self-healing' configuration that ensures that the normal operating cycle continues even after a hitch on the network.

Currently, the country's fibre cabling is done in a 'straight' line which makes the system prone to cuts.

The country has in the last four weeks witnessed more than five cable cuts which have negatively affected business operations with losses running into millions of shillings.

Kenya has an estimated 15 million Internet users which translates into 36.6 percent Internet penetration. Although the Communications Commission of Kenya estimates that 75per cent of the total users access the service through their mobile handsets, the outages are leaving most businesses exposed.

The East African Marine System (TEAMS) was cut in late February when a ship dragged its anchor on the cable in Mombasa. The incident happened just a few days after some of the onward cables from EASSy were also damaged.

Speeds were significantly degraded and the impact was immediate because TEAMS carries a lot of traffic for business in the East African region. The repairs are yet to commence, nearly a month later prolonging the agony for most firms.

Besides the slow speeds, most Internet Service Providers have had to incur additional costs as they seek emergency capacity for their clients.

AccessKenya Managing Director Jonathan Somen disclosed that the decision was motivated by the need to stabilise the networks for their customers.

"We have had to buy a lot of capacity from EASSy and other different sources and it has been expensive," he said although he declined to divulge finer details of the arrangement.

Just last week, a major fibre cut was reported along Mombasa road that exacerbated the internet service delivery woes.

While some of these cuts have been accidental due to the ongoing construction works in many parts of the country, there are fears that others could be as a result of sabotage.

This has heightened calls from industry players for the government to fast track the enactment of the law that seeks to criminalise such acts.

The draft Bill which is soon going to be tabled before Parliament will recognise such acts as economic sabotage and mete heavy penalties on offenders.

by EVELYN NJOROGE

Samsung launches premium brand shop

As part of a bigger strategy to maintain its position as the largest smart phones company not only in the region, Samsung Electronics East Africa (SEEA) has unveiled its first of a kind premium brand shop in Kenya through which it hopes to capture a big share of the market.

The firm will use the outlet situated at the Junction Mall on Ngong Road to not only introduce innovative products but also enhance its service delivery by taking care of the needs of every customer.

"This Samsung brand shop is offering our customers the full Samsung premium experience across our smart phones category and digital appliances," said SEEA Business Leader Manoj Changarampat said.

The shop has a product experience zone with the full range of Samsung Smart phones, Tablets, Note, Visual Display, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Digital Appliances, Mobile Communications, laptops and other accessories.

"This will provide the consumer with a stimulating environment in which to discover the full spectrum of Samsung's world-class offerings in one easily-accessible location," he added.

On the launch date only, the mobile electronics giant enticed consumers by offering a discount sale of five per cent for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S2.

He added: "The shop, which will be a showcase in the latest technology, will be manned by fully trained and experienced Samsung staff that will able to take our customers through the whole Samsung experience."

Samsung has expanded its customer care centers in Kenya, namely five in Nairobi, one in Kisumu, one in Eldoret and one in Mombasa, all geared to meet the needs of consumers.

The launch of the Samsung Brand Shop comes at a time when Samsung has shifted its attention to Africa, as the company grows its market share across mobile and consumer electronics segments.

by EVELYN NJOROGE