Today’s Google Kenya event (#gkenya) is focused on getting small and medium businesses without means online. Β These are the drivers of the economy as they bear the brunch of the businesses contributing revenue to the government and also employing numerous Kenyans, around 5 million of them. Google is partnering with Safaricom, Equity Bank and Kenic to make the shift to online a smooth one.
Thus the formation of Getting Kenyan Businesses OnlineΒ (GKBO) and the website KBO. Google notes that only 10% of Kenyan businesses are online. KBO’s initiative is making the transition cheap and quick to make the businesses online, ensuringΒ minimalΒ to zero costs in making the move.
GKBO is an online tool that will enable theseΒ business-peopleΒ get their businesses online hassle free.
Hereβs what you get:
- Free .kbo.co.ke. web address e.g. www.mamamboga.kbo.co.ke
- Free easy to update and customizable website
- Free online marketing through business listings onΒ www.kbo.co.ke
- Free ongoing tips and education
More about how it works on the video:
One of the big Kenyan Banks, Equity Bank is in advanced stages of negotiations withΒ PaypalΒ to integrate their systems to the Kenyan market and enable the long awaited payments processing viaΒ Paypal. Currently its not possible to withdraw moneyΒ receivedΒ from aΒ PaypalΒ account direct to a Kenyan bank account.
I wonder what the word is about google checkout!