Tag: Co-op Bank Kenya News

How a surprise treat at The Snake Park at Nairobi Museum helped conquer a lifelong phobia of snakes

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

The society has slowly transitioned into materialistic, price-tag zombies.

How much is the watch and belt she bought you on your birthday?

The fixation with the price tag is suppressing love, creativity and ingenuity in people. When in need to treat a loved one, ignore your bank balance – just get creative.

What do they like? Or, don’t?

I suffer from extreme OPHIDIOPHOBIA.

Fret not, Sons and Daughters of Adam. That, means the fear of snakes.

I had the misfortune of a day-long treat of close proximity to fearsome snakes, at the Snake Park. This is based at The Nairobi Museum.

What I thought would be a horrid day, opened up my eyes to how naïve, misinformed, prejudiced and generally dumb I was towards these creatures.

We grow up listening to endless myths and tales about snakes. For some reason, snakes take the lead role in stories wading in sorcery, black magic, demons and whatnot. This conditioning from an early age to hate snakes has led to a lot of pointless killing of the creature.

Snakes are usually harmless, except for the odd case.

No? Off-head, tell me of anyone you know who’s been bitten by a snake. No one? Thought so.

These statistics are so low – not because there aren’t snakes where we live. They are low, as snakes deliberately avoid human beings. A bite happens at the extreme end of a probable snake’s biting meter.

For instance, cobras usually slam their bodies up against people instead of biting. It’s a warning, and it works. Vipers, like the Puff Adder, mostly give dry bites. A dry bite is a bite where no venom is injected into the victim.

This is because venom is very hard to make, and takes long. No snake wants to pointlessly waste it on a hysterical human. As a snake, imagine needing venom to immobilize your dinner and not having it – all for biting a human.

Constrictors, like the python are demonized for how they kill their prey. Most people wrongly think their prey suffocates to death. They actually cut off the prey’s blood flow – which knocks out the prey.

That means, the prey doesn’t feel anything.

At the snake park at Nairobi Museum, there’s a large variety of snakes, with detailed descriptions of each. There’s so much to learn about snakes and other misconceived reptiles, like crocodiles. This day was an eye opener.

One other good thing is there’s hardly any queues at the entrance. This is due to a cashless payment system adopted at all KWS park entries, in line with a service charter that limits client processing time to a minimum 5 minutes.

Cashless payments at KWS park entry points, including the snake park – is open to M-Pesa payments, or Visa and Master-card branded bank cards.

In our case, we are Co-op Bank clients.

Entry fees were easily paid via Co-op Bank ATM (Visa) card. This is possible through the bank’s effortless e-Commerce platform that allows instant cash payments by swiping cards at payment points with PDQ/POS machines.

It’s fast, safe and convenient. Within moments of using our Co-op Visa cards, we received account notification messages on mobile phones. It’s easy to track expenses, credits or debits in real time.

Get out of your comfort zone.

To learn more about the convenience of cashless payments through the Co-op Bank e-Commerce platform, visit the nearest Co-op Bank branch.

Alternatively, check online by clicking here.

How an unlikely defendant in a ruffled blazer outsmarts a cocky prosecutor at Milimani Law Courts and escapes jail

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

This is not my story. But, am mighty glad it ain’t.

If you haven’t been to Milimani Law Courts, it’s a place that draws out the serious, sober bit.

We are in court for a hearing on a burglary case. It’s a default hearing, so, we are at the back of the court room. We get to sit through oddball corruption and murder cases, some of which I’ve seen make angry Twitter threads.

We hear cases that make our case seem like chicken feed.

I was particularly in awe of the presiding judge. It’s almost bipolar how she’d shift from dismissing cases to handing out death and life in prison sentences.

Just before our case is called, a Police Inspector – in uniform – comes in. Shortly, a tall guy in a fitting Italian suit follows. He’s a junior prosecutor at the court. They had a Driving Under Influence (DUI) hearing scheduled.

The accused driver is an old guy, in a ruffled coat and a slouching gait. He wobbles to the defendants table, silently. The prosecutor leads the Inspector through a practiced litany of why he’d seen it fit to pull over the driver, on Kiambu Road.

The Inspector intimates that the driver was a known prior offender. He says he’d seen him miss the yellow line a few times on the run just past the DCI Headquarters. The driver then, in the cop’s opinion, failed, or at least did not pass the sobriety test.

All this while, the accused just stands there with an expression of someone who’d rather be tending goats.

When I ask, I’m told this hearing is to establish if probable cause existed to proceed.

A busy section of Kiambu Road in Nairobi (file image)

The Italian-suited prosecutor looks over at the defendant and in the most dramatic, haughty and contemptuous tone, asks:

“Do YOU have any questions?”

The lady judge affords the man a few moments, and in the last possible second before she drops the gavel, the old man speaks up.

“Yes, Your Honor, I have a few questions.”

It gets interesting.

The slouching old man, suddenly draws himself up, clears his throat, and in a voice that could silence opinionated television political analysts, says:

“Deputy, did I hear you state that you pulled the defendant over because you recognized him as a prior offender, and because he crossed over the yellow line once or twice?”

The prosecutor and the judge suddenly take notice, and a trace of concern steals across the prosecutor’s face. The defendant assumes the third person narration, and is visibly confident enough in front of a Judge.

The Deputy thinks for a second, and replies:

“Well, yes, defendant. That’s you, Mwaniki. Two years ago, you had a similar DUI conviction, and you are a regular in several pubs on Thika Road.”

Mwaniki, nods.

“So, the Defendant’s history of a DUI conviction was a contributing factor in your determination as to whether to pull him over or not?”

The Inspector nods, and, in a less convincing voice replies:

“Yes, or course it was.”

The defendant continues:

“Since you stopped me in the middle of the day, and as your report says,” here Mwaniki holds up a copy of his charges, “nowhere near any of my regular pubs on Thika Road, Inspector, would you say your knowledge of the defendant’s prior conviction was a significant contributor in your decision to pull the defendant over?”

The inspector, now not as cocky, sputters out:

“I just said it was.”

Mwaniki looks at the attentive judge up on her desk.

“So, had you not known who the driver was, there was little chance that you would have pulled the vehicle over based upon the driver’s behavior. Is that a correct characterization?”

The Inspector pauses for a second, and says: “Yes”.

Mwaniki turns to the Judge, and says:

“Your Honor, I move to dismiss these charges as the State has failed to field a prima facie case. Their witness cannot provide articulable probable cause.”

Unexpectedly, for a judge who just dished out a decade-long sentence barely half an hour back – and before the junior prosecutor could tell what’s happening – the judge nods, and says:

“Mwaniki, I get your impression. The Inspector wouldn’t have pulled you over had he not known you were the driver. There’s no probable cause. The DUI case dismissed. However, if in retrospect you weren’t under influence and weaved over the yellow line, that’s an offence. The court fines you ONE HUNDRED shillings. If you can pay, you are free to leave.”

Mwaniki resumes his old man persona and limps out of the courtroom. No orderly even escorts him to the cash offices.

Mwaniki withdraws money from a Co-op Bank account, using the M-Coop Cash App, thanks to the e-Commerce platform. He then pays the fine from M-Pesa, through Milimani Law Court’s Paybill number.

I later learn that Mwaniki had lost his wife a couple of years prior, and presently in treatment for depression. He’d been a reputable criminal defense attorney.

Good for him.

Ksh 5 million hangs in the balance as Co-op Bank releases list of five fintechs shortlisted for the Akili Kali Innovator’s Challenge

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

Five fintechs that were shortlisted to participate in Co-operative Bank’s Akili Kali Innovation Challenge have been undergoing a 5-week co-development and co-design program supported by a dedicated team from Co-operative Bank and nominated Cooperatives, after which a virtual demo event will be held to select one or more winners.

The winners stand to be awarded a cash reward of up to Kes 5Milion and an opportunity to integrate and launch their innovation with Co-operative Bank.

(L-R) Co-op Bank’s Head of Digital Experience & Innovation Russel Akuom, Amina Saidi of Co-operatives Banking and Agri-Value Chain Manager Vera Nyaboke

The shortlisted candidates are:

  • Awamo 360 Kenya Ltd.
  • Herufi Technologies Ltd.
  • Jamborow Ltd.
  • Smart Matatu.
  • Chamasoft Ltd

They were selected by a panel of evaluators from a list of over 500 applicants who responded to the call for passionate innovators to collaborate with Co-operative Bank in building the next generation offinancial solutions beneficial to the Co-operative Movement and its membership of over 20 million Kenyans.

The challenge, which is supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will enable the bank to identify and partner with innovators who can rapidly develop solutions to build value for Co-operatives and enable them to service their members demands more efficiently while ensuring that the essence of the Co-operative movement, which is engrained in enabling both national and social development for individuals through a shared economy, is sustained.

The new innovations will also give Co-operatives a competitive edge and strengthen their resilience in the rapidly changing financial landscape in Kenya, particularly in light of the myriad challenges occasioned by COVID-19.

The Co-operative Movement in Kenya is the largest in Africa and among the top 10 globally, with over 22,000 registered Co-operatives and over Kes 600B in savings. Co-operatives play a major role in all the key sectors of the economy including Education, Agriculture, Housing and Transport.

It employs more than 500,000 people besides providing opportunities for self-employment to many more.

Co-operative Bank has a long history with the Co-operative movement, having been started by coffee farmers back in 1968 and now owned 64.56% by Co-operatives through a special purpose vehicle known as Co-op Holdings Limited.

Speaking during the rollout of the Co-op Akili Kali Innovation Challenge in July, the Bank’s Director of Co-operatives Banking, Mr. Vincent Marangu noted that the growth trends of Co-operatives in Kenya indicate a great opportunity for Co-operatives to offer valuable services to existing and potential new members whose demand for more and better services has grown with the digital revolution.

Related – https://www.ghafla.co.ke/sponsored/co-operative-bank-spurs-tech-innovators-by-launching-the-akili-kali-innovation-challenge/

Have you had a debtor skip payment but instead has a story that slides sideways immediately it starts?

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

Meet Antony Kwalanda.

Kwalanda is a work colleague, and owes me money. We share an employer, and the same pay date. I expected payment, but, instead, Kwalanda has a story.

Well, I’m convinced to listen, and it’s a heck of a story.

******

A few months ago, a rather poor couple moved in next door. I live in Likoni, some place called Bondeni.

They were native Kisii’s – and you know how friendly Kisii’s tend to be. No, it’s not stereotyping. It’s just what it is. A few days in, we are friends and they tell me how they eloped from their Nyakemincha village. The guy’s extended family disallowed their relationship – citing distant clan relations.

We grew close.

This is a couple out in the urban jungle with no contact from their relations in the village. But, thankfully, the girl’s family wasn’t so held up on who she chose to date or cohabit with.

It happens that the girl grew up with her maternal grandmother, and she wanted to show her the beach ‘before she died’.

Fair enough.

So my neighbors book their elderly grandma a seat in one of the night buses from Kisii. She travels safe, and they pick her at dawn from Mwembe Tayari terminus.

I met her once in the hallway. She’s elderly, but quite sprightly, and chirpy. Much like my neighbor, her grand-daughter.

Grandma is jovial, and seems like fun. Heck, she even offers me a portion of the gifts she brought. Just bananas, but, still……

Well, a week runs by. Grandma spends a lot of time on the beach. Perhaps it’s the cold from the water, or the constant shore winds, but she caught a severe cold.

She died.

Me: Wait, Kwalanda, slow down. What did you say?

Him: She died, right there on her bed in their spare bedroom!

Right after her granny kicks the bucket, the girl lets rip that her grandma’s wish was to be buried outside her hut in Nyakemincha, Kisii.

Which is alright, except that my neighbors do not have much in their savings to fund such a burial, especially not in far-off Kisii.

It costs quite a sum to hire a hearse from Mombasa to Kisii.

They turned to me for help. I had to give them all I could spare so they could hire a private van to transport their grandmother back to Kisii.

Kwalanda ends that story with a forlorn, mournful look.

A few days later, I learn that he neither lives in Likoni, nor does he have Kisii neighbors. He’s just skipping paying his debts.

After a somewhat funny confrontation at work, over tea break, Kwalanda is nailed. He makes a money transfer on his phone from his Co-op Bank account via the MCo-op Cash App to my account.

******

This is possible using the MCo-op Cash App. Alternatively, he could have used the USSD *667# to initiate the process.

 

With Co-op Bank e-Commerce platform, this feature does much more than settle personal bills and debts. MCo-op Cash App can be used to make cashless payments for goods and services.

It’s fast and convenient. It’s safe, cashless and reflects instantly into the recipient’s Co-op Bank account.

At the same time, all business money paid through Co-op Bank e-Commerce platform is readily available, either through internet banking, ATM’s or over the counter in branches across the country.

Visit the nearest Co-op Bank branch to learn more on e-Commerce, or check online by clicking here.

What are the benefits of exploiting payment options offered by the Co-op Bank e-Commerce platform?

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

Co-op bank has greatly revamped their e-Commerce platform to assist businesses meet the increased demand from customers in going cashless.

Going cashless has a lot of benefits. Besides being a vital prop in the fight against Covid-19 which has higher chances of spread in the exchange of cash, there are other benefits.

What’s on offer on the e-Commerce platform?

Online card payments

Boost your sales by integrating into our online card payment solution to receive card payments from customers from different banks and from anywhere in the world. These are Coop Bank ATM’s, Debit or Credit Cards. All payments for purchases or goods delivered can easily be checked off by swiping these cards.

With card payments, it’s easier to track stock levels, and enjoy an easy check out flow.

PDQ/POS

Forget the fancy jargon. This refers to a device which interfaces with payment cards to make electronic funds transfers. They are very popular in malls, supermarkets and fuel stations.

It’s basically a payment terminal. POS stands for Point Of Sale in a business outlet. PDQ stands for ‘Process Data Quickly’.

Coop Bank avails PDQ/POS machines to their clients. These machines greatly boost sales by enabling them receive card payments from customers from different banks.

A trader enjoys timely reports, easier tracking of income and expenses.

Lipa Na M-Pesa Till Number

Co-op Bank takes pleasure in service, as seen by the offer to process a till number for their client’s businesses, at no charge.

This helps a business to receive cashless payments via Lipa na M-Pesa Till Number. The money received through the Till number is deposited directly into the client’s Co-op Bank account.

The payments paid into the account can be accessed anytime via Co-op Bank’s mobile banking platform, ATMs, Co-op Kwa Jirani agents, Internet banking or at any branch across the republic.

M-Pesa Paybill 400200

The M-Pesa Paybill number 400200 enables a trader to receive payments directly into their Co-op Bank account. The money reflects into the account immediately.

One can also check for the payment confirmation via our mobile banking or internet banking platforms. Alternatively, one can receive notifications via text if they have subscribed to the MCo-op Cash SMS notifications.

The funds are accessible anytime via our mobile banking platform, Co-op Kwa Jirani agents, ATMs, Internet banking or at the branch.

M-Coop Cash

This feature is not limited to business owners, but to everyone with a Co-op bank account.

It’s applicable to all needs that require exchange of money. Encourage colleagues, family members, clients or business associates who have Co-op Bank accounts to send money directly account using the MCo-op Cash App or via USSD *667#.

How does a business boost sales?

  • Easier tracking of expenses.
  • Timely business reports.
  • Easy check out flow.
  • Instant payment confirmation via SMS notifications or via internet banking platform.
  • Payments are deposited into Co-op Bank account – easy access anytime via mobile banking platform, ATMs, Co-op Kwa Jirani agents, internet banking and at the branch

Visit the nearest Co-op Bank branch to learn more on e-Commerce, or check online by clicking here.

Millennials, hands up if you spent a chilly night outdoors to make sure a cow doesn’t snack on her own placenta!

Posted on by Kibaki Muthamia

Oh, the things the boy child in my rural generation had to go through!

It’s a wonder no fatalities or permanent disfigurements were recorded. The rough and tumble on a daily basis was crazy. First, bullying was a thing, and village cred depended on whether you snitched or not. In any case, any snitching to your folks would spawn more problems.

“What were you doing with those boys to get beaten?”

“And, why didn’t you fight back?”

Scraps on the knees would rarely be reported. Tiny bruises would mature into full-blown, septic wounds – and, only then would a lad be taken to the local dispensary for a tetanus jab. That trip would have nothing close to snacking on cookies and fizzy drinks.

The walk would make a huge part of a disciplinary hearing.

One of the lads in the village almost broke his neck in a dare, but luckily escaped with a fractured femur. In those days, the valleys had gigantic, majestic hardwood trees – Camphor, Meru Oak, Meru Teak. These trees would be tall, sometimes close to 100 meters. At the peaks, hawks and eagles would make their nests.

Well, one evening after a river swimming contest, a guy from a rival village comes up with a wild idea.

Who’s brave enough to climb up the towering tree and capture a fledgling from the net?

Wait, an eagle’s chick is called a fledgling. Thought you should know.

This was the kind of stunts that instantly made you a legend in the village. Even damsels would take note. My village crew wouldn’t watch the challenge slip by, and instantly a volunteer stepped forth. I was too little at the time to think about it – not that I would have, anyway.

The guy starts to climb, while we sit and cheer. He’s bare chested, and some sections are a challenge. It takes a while, and halfway into it, the crowd falls silent. We all know this is a bad idea, but no one wants to say that.

Our climber didn’t even get to the last quarter of the tree, before a pair of eagles re-surfaced. Immediately, the birds of prey staged a double-pronged attack. It was subtle at first – blinding claps to the head with their wings.

The climber is hanging off a branch with one hand and trying to ward off the birds with the other. If the birds hadn’t scaled up their attacks with their hooked beaks and talons, perhaps the climber would have got off the tree safely.

A swoop by one of the eagles on his bare back left several gashes. Rivulets of blood started running down the back of his thighs. The tree gets slippery. Another swoop, and our climber is tumbling down.

The damage would have been catastrophic, even fatal, if his fall hadn’t been broken by branches on the way down. It didn’t take long, but the eagles were still fast enough to claw him all the way down!

He plunged headlong into thick shrubbery growing along the river bed. We all took to our heels – straight home! I later heard that the climber’s younger brother had raced to fetch their father. They’d almost taken an hour to retrieve the lad from the shrubbery. He was lucky to escape with just a broken leg.

Recently, with the lockdown due to the pandemic, I spent a chilly night with a vet. The vet says his career path was decided by a near-death episode as a kid. A bull had broken loose and almost trampled him to death – they were having their cow serviced. Since, he’s helped phase out traditional bulls in favor of artificial insemination – at reasonable costs.

On this night, our family cow had just delivered – we were waiting to receive the placenta. Cows have an uncanny trick of eating their placentas!

As is with the Covid-19 regulations, the vet insists on cashless means of payment. He easily self-registered online on the New Co-op Internet Banking.

The New Co-op Internet Banking allows a client to handle and track payments to his account, real time. This also allows direct purchase of airtime from a Co-op Bank account, and even pay utility bills like power, water or cable TV packages. To self-register online, click here.

If you survived such adventures, you are a legend!