Big Data in Urban Planning: Transforming East African Cities
Rapid urbanisation – evident in the growth of cities like Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala – poses a special challenge to East Africa’s urban landscape and contributes to the widespread development of informal settlements. This expansion places immense pressure on existing infrastructure, leading to critical gaps in transportation, water, sanitation, and energy provision. These challenges are aggravated by the impacts of climate change, including escalating weather extremes and increasing water scarcity.
Small Data, Big Decisions: How SMEs Can Turn Local Data into Business Insight
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vital contributors to East Africa’s economy. In countries like Uganda and Kenya, they employ up to 90% of the population and account for about 40% of the GDP. Despite many challenges like power shortage and limited funding which put a ceiling on their chances of long-term survival, the digitization of SMEs has the potential to counter their effects by eliminating operational inefficiencies and using predictive capabilities to add value to an enterprise.
From Fields to Skies: How Drones are Transforming Agriculture in East Africa
East Africa’s agricultural sector has long relied on traditional farming practices, with smallholder farmers using age-old techniques to cultivate the land. However, climate change, population growth, and food security concerns are driving the need for innovation. Drones, once a futuristic concept, are now emerging as a transformative tool for East African agriculture.
Wired and Wireless: The Fibre Optic and Satellite Infrastructure Powering East Africa’s Digital Leap
Despite being home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, East Africa’s internet penetration rate remains below 40%, lagging significantly behind the global average of 66.2%. Approximately 70% of East Africa’s population lives in rural areas, where traditional connectivity infrastructure is often inaccessible or unreliable.
Caught in the Web: Using Machine Learning to Combat Scam SMS Messages
Aisha was mindlessly scrolling through her phone when an SMS pinged. The message announced a job vacancy at a well-known company, offering an attractive yet believable salary. It ended with, ‘Click this link to find out more.’
The State of Surveillance in Kenya: The Precarious Balance Between National Security and Privacy Rights Amidst Nationwide Disappearances
Nairobi has been awash with a sudden resurgence of abductions and disappearances of personalities known to critique the sitting government. These kidnappings have become endemic to the Kenyan capital following the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests that ravaged Nairobi and wider parts of the country from June to August 2024.
