LG NEW HOM-BOT SQUARE MAKES CLEANING MORE EFFORTLESS

LG NEW HOM-BOT SQUARE RED

The growth of the digital age has revolutionized the technology experience with human beings. New technology has made the interaction with new devices more and more human. Devices can now hold a meaningful conversation like a real person.
A digital device can now perceive its environment and take actions that maximize its chances of success towards a certain goal; thanks to smart technology. You can command your fridge to order anything online; from food, a taxi cab or even dial a friend.
Artificial intelligence has increased usability of an ordinary device into a high end system that can perform tasks like a human being. The LG Hom-bot has turned into one of the simple devices that have optimized their performance into a personal assistant.
Unlike the conventional vacuum cleaners, the new Hom-bot square vacuum cleaner has impressive new edges that leave no room for dirt in your house. The new square shape not only cleans edges of corners that are the hardest to reach, but also has a turbo option that allows you to clean your house faster.
Every speck of dirt on corners is picked up by the side brushes which are 1.5 centimetres longer than other robot cleaners in the market. It has a corner detecting system that cleverly detects corners and avoids scratching the wall. The corner master has enabled thorough cleansing of the floors. It has also optimized the corner cleaning area by 89 per cent compared to the conventional circular vacuum. It is the new way to keep your apartrailwaysment or mansion spotless.
Moreover, the robot does not require you to be in the house to perform any household chores. The device links with a companion smartphone app for instructions. With a simple click of a button, you can clean your house. Users can now customize their personal cleaning routines with the app and schedule the robot to clean according to their own standards.
Artificial intelligence has done more than create robots which performs various tasks like a human being. They have created richer experiences which have enabled users to observe what it is doing from a mobile phone or any device. You can now monitor everything that is happening in your house with the Hom-bot.
For those concerned about pets, toys and children, the device is designed to cleverly recognize personal items in the house and can even warn you when there is an intruder in the house.
“The LG Hom-bot was designed with features never seen before in robot vacuums in the market. It is the only device in the market that turns the user’s smartphone cameras into a set of eyes. We are dedicated in making the cleaning experience more enjoyable for consumers,” said LG Electronics Marketing Manager Moses Marji.
LG has given its users access to a personal assistant that in addition to cleaning your house, can connect itself to a charger, provide more suction and offer seven different cleaning modes that you can choose from.

British American Tobacco Kenya plc announces Full Year 2016 results

British American Tobacco Kenya plc announced its full year results for the year ended 31 December 2016, posting gross revenues of Shs 36.7 billion, after tax profit of Shs 4.2 billion and a record contribution to Government revenue of Shs 19.2 billion. The company’s shareholders will receive a total dividend of Shs 43 per share.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director of BAT Kenya, Keith Gretton, said:

Managing Director of BAT Kenya, Keith Gretto

“On the domestic market, we grew market share despite the adverse impact of excise led price increases on sales mix. Our global drive brands continue to record a strong performance.

We remain a key player in Kenya’s economy through our tax contributions standing at a record Shs 19.2 billion in the form of Excise Duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and Corporation Tax.

The Nairobi factory remains a manufacturing hub for our operations with over 60 percent of our production supplying 13 countries in the region. In 2016, the export business generated USD 88 million for the Kenyan economy.”

Commenting on the financial performance, BAT Kenya Finance Director, Philip Lopokoiyit said:

“Gross revenue increased by 2 percent to Shs 36.7 billon driven by higher domestic revenues following excise led prices increased offset by lower contract manufacturing costs.  Excise duty and VAT increased by 24 percent to Shs 16.8 billion driven by significantly higher Excise Duty following the implementation of a single tier Excise regime on 1 December 2015.

Our cost of operations reduced by 9 percent to Shs 13.3 billion through stringent cost management, productivity and overheads savings. We undertook a reorganisation in the second half of 2016 which cost Shs 338 million following implementation of new ways of working in the factory and to further mitigate the cost base.

Finance Director, Philip Lopokoiyit

Profit after tax reduced by 15 percent to Shs 4.2 billion, indicating the impact of a decline in net revenue offset by lower costs. Cash generated from operations increased significantly by 41 percent to Shs 8 billion reflecting enhanced working capital management during the year.”

Looking ahead to 2017, Managing Director Keith Gretton said:

“We will continue to invest in a fit for future portfolio and enhance the competitiveness of our factory to deliver sustained value for our shareholders.”

Revolutionizing kitchen experience with LG Smart Refrigerator

It's exciting to imagine the kind of comforts, personalization and improvements that technology bring in especially in a room as widely-used and adored as the kitchen. While some appliances have changed the kitchen experience, it's thrilling to think about what's next: the items that we think of as complete necessities even though currently they sound like they're out of reach.

Today, the concept of ‘smart’ world is being realized to our very own houses. Kitchen, as an important part of a home, has been significantly influenced by the revolutionary trend of the internet of things. No wonder major players dealing with the kitchen appliances like LG electronics are investing heavily in blending smart technology with these appliances.

Refrigerator, being a big-ticket product in the kitchen space, has revolutionized the art of food storage for the home cooked meals for richer experiences.

Research shows that home cooked meals offer profound health benefits while also strengthening family ties and creating emotional connection through togetherness. In addition, home cooked meals help families trim household expenses, reduce their carbon footprint and live healthier lives.

The discovery of these tangible benefits is helping inspire a renaissance in home cooking, and LG is trendsetting  this new wave of demand with kitchen products designed to bring out the best and empowering the culinary skills in each chef.

If you thought the concept of bring about freshness in the home cooked meal is one of those things that will take forever to get out of the lab and into your kitchen, guess again. LG already have an idea how this is all going to be done, and the key to it is the user centric LG smart refrigerator that tracks the expiration dates of food stored inside for instant delivery on new ingredients helping chefs prepare tasty, healthy dishes.

LGs collection of advanced ovens and cooktops also make it possible for users to enjoy an exquisite restaurant - worthy meal in the comfort of their own home. Even left overs can be given a refined twist with LGs flavor preserving microwaves.

NIC Bank continues with branch expansion plan

Muthini, NIC Bank’s Head of Branch Business welcomes a customer, Samo Bryton, to the bank’s new branch at Rosslyn Riviera Mall located along Limuru Road, during the official opening on 10th February, 2017. The bank’s 34th branch in Kenya aims to target the Retail and SME clientele in the area.

NIC Bank today opened a new branch at the Rosslyn Riviera Mall along Limuru Road. The new branch is NIC Bank’s 34th branch in Kenya, and 41st in the region.

Commenting on the branch opening in Rosslyn, John Gachora, the Group Managing Director for NIC Bank, noted that the new branch will offer a full array of financial products and services that will meet the growing demand for the bank’s services by retail customers in the area.

“The opening of this new branch was driven by a strong demand for our retail banking and Asset Finance offering in the area,” he said.

The nascent Retail Banking sector in Kenya has grown consistently in recent years due to deepening financial inclusion. Kenya has witnessed a more than 50% increase in financial inclusion over the past decade, and 75.3% of Kenyans are now formally included in the financial system, according to a 2016 survey by FinAccess.

NIC Bank’s branch expansion in the retail banking space is set against the backdrop of industry wide cost cutting across the sector in response to thinning margins brought about by the Banking Amendment Act (2016). As a result, many banks have halted branch expansion in favour of digital channels such as mobile banking in order to save on costs.

“Although the flight to digital channels is inevitable, it is our view that the branch is not dead.  Branches will remain an essential channel to attract and maintain customer relationships.  Retail banking success will be tied to the ability to offer the right products in an accessible and efficient manner,” said Mr. Gachora.

SMEs are a key focus area for NIC Bank. “We have a sizable SME portfolio, which we are targeting to increase substantially in the coming years,” noted Mr. Gachora, citing the instrumental role that SMEs play in driving economic growth and creating employment opportunities.

In 2016, the Bank opened seven new branches across the country. It has two branches in Uganda and four in Tanzania. In an effort to continue improving customer experience in the banking halls, the bank is also refurbishing and expanding some of its older branches with City Centre Branch being the latest branch to re-open its doors to customers earlier in February. The Junction and The Mall branches were refurbished last year.

NIC Bank Donates Kshs 2 million to MPESA Foundation Academy

L-R  NIC Bank Marketing, Communications and citizenship Director Rosalind Gichuru and Les Bailie CEO MPESA Academy  takes a picture with the sponsored students at the cheque handover ceremony

NIC Bank has sponsored five students living with albinism to the M-PESA foundation academy.

The Kshs 2 million sponsorship will go towards financing the students’ education at the academy for the four years.  The sponsored students are beneficiaries of the Dr. Choksey foundation, which is dedicated at improving the quality of life of persons with Albinism in Kenya.

NIC Bank is the first corporate organisation to contribute towards the education of individual students at the M-PESA Foundation Academy.

“As NIC Bank we are pleased to support these students and bring positive change in their lives. Education is key to building our economy and will equip them with life skills that will enable them to make informed life decisions and to contribute to their society positively,” said NIC Banks’ Director Marketing, Communications and Citizenship, Rosalind Gichuru during the cheque handover when the Form 1 students reported to the M-PESA foundation academy.

The M-PESA Foundation Academy is a state of the art, mixed boarding high school providing world class Kenyan secondary education. Driven by leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, the Academy serves talented but economically disadvantaged students with demonstrable leadership potential.

Dr. Prabha V. Choksey is an ophthalmologist and the founder of the Dr. Choksey foundation. The foundation has supported hundreds of children and families affected by Albinism, mainly offering free eye care and paying school fees for those disadvantaged in society. who are not able to. NIC Bank has been supporting the Foundation for two years as one of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program initiatives  2017 will mark the third year.

“M-PESA Foundation Academy commenced operations in February 2016 when 96 students were admitted to form 1 and a further 192 students have  enrolled this year. The selection process is very rigorous and involves picking students from different counties across the country by identifying their leadership potential from economically disadvantaged schools.

“Education is a holistic process. Learning goes beyond listening to the teacher disseminate knowledge and test accuracy. Developing and nurturing the students’ talents is an essential component that is incorporated in our curriculum. We offer state of art facilities managed by dedicated and experienced staff,” said the CEO of M-PESA Foundation Academy, Mr. Les Baillie during the cheque handover when the Form 1 students were reporting to the M-PESA Foundation Academy.

The five students are Linda Nyakoha, Devrighan Rakuom, Catherine Ngendo, Samuel Mburu and Nancy Njeri and hails from various counties across the country.

Linda Nyakoha, is one of the beneficiaries of the support from NIC Bank. She has been supported by Dr. Choksey through her primary education and was excited to join the academy, having attained 375 marks in her KCPE.

“I would like to be a doctor and support people with Albinism in Kenya. I look forward to my four years here and making new friends,” said Linda Nyakoha.

R-L Rosalind Gichuru - NIC Bank Director of marketing communication   Citizenship handing over a cheque of KES. 2000000. to Les BaillIe - CEO Mpesa foundation academy

LG DOMINANCE IN CONSUMER GOODS.

2016 was a successful year for the consumer electronics industry with many advancements taking place in this sector. 2017 seeks to outpace the previous year with many trends and products by LG that will be improved and suitable to our usage.

The growth of Smart Technology and Information of Things (IoT) in the last one year has surpassed forecaster’s expectations, and with high demand on this, 2017 will be no short of new technology. IoT powered smart homes will be key in the progress of this technology. From lighting, security and climate control, one will be able to control all functions through technology. With LG’s forward thinking, they have innovated devices such as the Smart InstaView refrigerator and SmartThinQ washing machine that enhance consumer experience.

2016 was a successful year for LG when it came to TV’s. With launches of the highly anticipated OLED 4K TV being released among others, we all got mesmerized on how the OLED had such premium picture quality. 2017 with no doubt will be another key year for the TV market, with anticipated releases of the 8k, 4K UHD  and integrated smart video streaming services that will offer consumers an incredibly immersive viewing experience. “LG strives to ensure high quality and perfect delivery when it comes to our televisions and other consumer goods, we strive to bring out the best in everything we set out to do.” explained Moses Marji, General Manager Marketing LG Electronics.

One consumer good that can be found nearly anywhere is a smartphone. From children to adults, smartphones are revolutionizing how we go about our day to day activities. Regardless, statistics show that nearly half of these smartphones have altercations, whether it’s a cracked screen or being waterlogged. Durability is an issue that needs to be addressed. With the highly anticipated release of the LG V20, such issues are to be dusted away. Features on this phone such as its durable material made from the same material used in aircrafts and mountain bikes makes this phone highly reliable and convenient.

Kenya Airways celebrates 40 years in the skies.

Its inauguration flight was on 4th February, 1977 between Nairobi – Mombasa 
NAIROBI, January 22, 2017 – Kenya Airways today marked its 40th anniversary since it was incorporated in 1977.
From humble beginnings Kenya Airways has grown to become a leading player in Africa connecting the region to the World and the World to Africa through its hub in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi. The airline launched its inaugural flight on 4th of February two weeks after the company was incorporated on 22nd January 1977.
Over the last four decades Kenya Airways has emerged as an important economic drive in Kenya and the region as a whole.
“Today Kenya Airways connects directly from Nairobi to more than 54 destinations in four continents, with a fleet of 36 aircrafts from the initial 4. It has been an interesting journey and we believe our best years are ahead,” said Kenya Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Mbuvi Ngunze.
He was speaking during the celebrations held at JKIA Terminal 1A with customers and partners. He noted Kenya Airways growth has been characterised by a strategic network expansion focusing on Africa, fleet modernisation, and high quality service among other facets of development.
In addition, Kenya Airways was the first African flag bearer carrier to be privatized, in 1996, a move that saw it listed across East Africa.
The airline has commercial partnerships with various global carriers, including a joint venture with KLM and codeshares with airlines in Europe, Asia and Africa. Through its membership in the Sky Team Alliance, Kenya Airways offers service to 1,057 destinations in more than 177 countries.
Beyond Kenya, Mbuvi cited that the growth and economic transformation of the region and African continent is largely tied to success of Kenya Airways owing to its pivotal role in promoting trade; cultural exchanges, enabling an exchange of ideas as well as promoting peaceful co-existence among people of different beliefs and cultural backgrounds.
He noted the journey was made possible by the tremendous support from staff, guests, partners and shareholders.
“We sincerely thank everyone who have been a part of this journey in the past and today, and look forward to many more years of being the Pride of Africa. Kenya Airways is committed to continue serving the region promoting trade, and offering quality service to our guests,” he said.
As part of the celebrations, Kenya Airways had launched a sales campaign offering customers up to 40% discounts on tickets to various destinations across its network. The offer also includes a special USD 1977 price for its business class tickets to Europe; Paris, London and Amsterdam.
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About Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways, a member of the Sky Team Alliance, is a leading African airline flying to 52 destinations worldwide, 42 of which are in Africa and carries over four million passengers annually. The airline was recently voted the Leading Airline in Africa by passengers in the World Travel Awards. It has been voted the Leading Airline in Africa – Business Class four years in a row. With a fleet of 36 aircraft that are some of the youngest in Africa. This includes its flagship B787 Dreamliner aircraft. The on-board service is renowned and the lie-flat business class seat on the wide-body aircraft is consistently voted among the world’s top 10. Kenya Airways takes pride for being in the forefront of connecting Africa to the World and the World to Africa through its hub at the new ultra-modern Terminal 1A at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. For more information, please visit www.kenya-airways.com