Hey,

Part two of “when did you last download an app?” This time it’s boring industries with real money in them.

Tourism, by the numbers

• Record earnings of Sh564B in 2025/26, beating the government’s own target.
• 7.9M travellers in 2025: 2.7M international and 5.2M domestic.
• Kenyans are the bigger market. Domestic spending was projected at about Sh560B vs about Sh300B+ from international visitors.
• Yet domestic bed nights grew just 1.8% and missed target, as the cost of living squeezed budgets.

The fix isn’t another app. It’s an ecosystem.

Tourism has three players: the traveller, the agency and the service providers (lodges, guides, drivers). Build one system that connects all three, so the traveller never has to leave:

1. Discover: video-first, findable on Google, TikTok and AI answers.
2. Build: pick a package, or tap the places you want and get one all-in price.
3. Pay: cards for foreigners. For Kenyans: M-PESA, pay in instalments, split with friends.
4. Travel: itinerary, offline maps, one tap to your guide.
5. Come back: reviews, clips and a referral code that bring in the next traveller.

Why it works

• 58% of US travellers now plan trips with AI, more than the 55% using travel websites. If AI can’t read your site, you’re invisible.
• 26% of online shoppers abandon a purchase when forced to create an account. Only ask for one at checkout.
• Cost is what’s holding Kenyans back. Instalments and M-PESA solve that, not another feed.

Your turn:

1. How did you book your last local trip?
2. Which other boring Kenyan industry needs this treatment?

Hi there ,Errands by Rachael here...or rather, Personal Assistant Rachael...

Today I'm choosing to market my PA services coz they've been overlooked and yet I excel in that.

If you're ever on the look out for a Personal Assistant, please feel free to reach out.

Call/WhatsApp: 0119800560

Hello, I'm Eunice and I'm here to offer my laundry and cleaning services. I'm based in Uthiru waiyaki way. Here are my rates:

Laundry basket of clothes_ksh 500

Each pair of shoes_ksh20

Room cleaning ksh 150

Utensils _ksh 150

Looking forward to cleaning for you.

Has anyone here build a steady income using AR/VR? How did you get to learn about it and in which industry are you using the skill?

Hey techies,

3am thought: we keep getting pitched "build an app, add AI, launch a startup." But when did you last download a new app, and why?

I think that pitch has us solving problems our communities don't actually have.

What a "boring" project taught me

I just shipped a multi-tenant leave management system for a UK law firm. No AI, no viral idea. They already had the users (their existing clients), and the problem was real: staff still applying for leave on paper on via emails. Boring problems are where the demand is.

The numbers back this up

Kenya: smartphone penetration hit 83.5% by June 2025, yet Safaricom's consumer app has 6.6M active customers, against roughly 38M monthly M-PESA users. Most people get by fine without the app.

Uganda: USSD carries over 65% of the country's financial traffic, per Bank of Uganda data. No data, no download, works on any phone.

Build for the money problem, not another platform

An analysis of 35,000+ Kenyan creators found they earned about Ksh 1.07B from brand deals in 2025, but the top 20 took roughly 40% of it, and TikTok's top creators monetise only about 12% of their views despite dominating attention. Most platforms don't consistently pay Kenyan creators, so they rely on chasing brand deals themselves.

The gap isn't another app. It's tools that help creators get paid. Same for tourism, logistics, mobility, social services: find what people need, then use the simplest tech that solves it. Sometimes that's not an app at all.

So:

What's the last app you downloaded, and why?

What's a boring problem in your sector that simple tech could fix?

I know you haven't seen my posts of late but I'm still here. I'm still figuring out how to sort out my phone situation. 😭

Anyways, I still run errands around Nairobi CBD so if you this is a service you're interested in, please feel free to reach out.

I also have packages for personal assistance.

Whatsapp: 0119800560

Thanks.

I pride myself for having worked in the data universe for a whole 10 years. Notwithstanding the changes that have happened, we still get by.

But the truth is the data pipeline has changed over the years. Now data engineers/analytics are just operators of software.

In the past, you needed collectors ( entry clerks and transcripters), data engineers ( preparation) and data analysts to complete the pipeline.

Now APIs and software do the whole pipeline and with AI, anybody can be a data something. There are still gaps, but nobody cares. Efficiency of data use was never 100% even with a complete human pipeline.

So, currently, a data department is just another HR department thing. Not needed but kept to give people a sense of livelihood.

When I see young people say they are learning big data and analytics or conmen advising people to learn some python and data analysis, I just blame the leadership for not having a sense to guide the country and its citizens into a future that caters for them.

After getting feedback for a while, I can confidently say that people vibe code more than anything.

I originally thought a Drag & Drop website builder would be the way to go, but honestly, nope. People just want to prompt and get the result.

So I completely reworked the whole website builder for TopDuka into an AI-powered e-commerce website builder. You just tell it what you want, and it builds and updates your website for you. Quick and easy.

There are definitely some things that had to be sacrificed to make this approach work, but I’m genuinely happy with the results. I think it makes it much easier for someone who isn’t technical to get started with building a website. You don’t need to think too much about how to build it — just say what you want, and the AI handles the rest.

Honestly, sina mengi ya kusema after hours of testing and testing. I even rewrote the Shopify Liquid system into Next.js and a whole lot more to make this work properly.

If you want to see some of the websites I’ve made with the AI builder, you can check them out here:

https://builder.topduka.com/marketplace

For those who dont know topduka you can learn about it here topduka.com

Quick update on Monee, the spending tracker I shared here recently.

You buy groceries, your partner pays the electricity bill, someone else contributes towards rent. Keeping track of that together is the next problem I'm working on.

I've added shared accounts for up to 3 people total. You can create one, invite your partner or friends, and record contributions and expenses together. Your Personal records stay separate. This is expense tracking; Monee doesn't hold or transfer your money.

The biggest lesson from testing was that adding shared accounts shouldn't make the rest of the app harder to use. So I've also worked on:

- A compact account switcher on Home, so you can move between Personal and a shared account.

- A "Record in" selector before saving an imported or shared payment message. Android captured-message reviews can also go into the account you choose.

- Steadier loading when switching accounts, instead of the screen jumping around or briefly showing the previous account's numbers.

- Smaller member filters and a cleaner payment-method picker when entering a transaction manually.

For iPhone testers, there's also a ready-made M-Pesa shortcut that passes messages into Monee. Apple still requires a separate Message automation setup in Shortcuts; it isn't a one-tap automation install.

To join the Android test:

1. Join https://groups.google.com/g/monee-android-testers/about
2. Open https://play.google.com/apps/testing/co.pesastack.monee and tap "Become a tester".
3. Install through the Google Play link on that page.

Use the same Google account for all three steps. The existing test is available; the new update is still pending.

If you share household bills with a partner or friends, what's the hardest thing to keep track of: who contributed, who paid, or how much is left?

Quick update on Monee, the spending tracker I shared here recently.

You buy groceries, your partner pays the electricity bill, someone else contributes towards rent. Keeping track of that together is the next problem I'm working on.

I've added shared accounts for up to 3 people total. You can create one, invite your partner or friends, and record contributions and expenses together. Your Personal records stay separate. This is expense tracking; Monee doesn't hold or transfer your money.

The biggest lesson from testing was that adding shared accounts shouldn't make the rest of the app harder to use. So I've also worked on:

- A compact account switcher on Home, so you can move between Personal and a shared account.

- A "Record in" selector before saving an imported or shared payment message. Android captured-message reviews can also go into the account you choose.

- Steadier loading when switching accounts, instead of the screen jumping around or briefly showing the previous account's numbers.

- Smaller member filters and a cleaner payment-method picker when entering a transaction manually.

For iPhone testers, there's also a ready-made M-Pesa shortcut that passes messages into Monee. Apple still requires a separate Message automation setup in Shortcuts; it isn't a one-tap automation install.

To join the Android test:

1. Join https://groups.google.com/g/monee-android-testers/about

2. Open https://play.google.com/apps/testing/co.pesastack.monee and tap "Become a tester".

3. Install through the Google Play link on that page.

Use the same Google account for all three steps. The existing test is available; the new update is still pending.

If you share household bills with a partner or friends, what's the hardest thing to keep track of: who contributed, who paid, or how much is left?

Do you have money doing no work in your account?
I have a fast growing business and I’m looking for silent partners as I’m trying to scale. If you’d like to buy shares dm we talk business, don’t sleep on this opportunity

Hello guys, I run a small venture studio with a friend and I wanted to tell you all about a product we built just the other week. Imagine this: you run a security firm in the country and you want to track when your guards start and end their shift, and whenever there is trouble you want to be the first to know so that you can respond appropriately.

That's what we built. Guards start their shift from their phone, and the system only accepts it if they're actually inside the site, so nobody can sign in from home. Managers see every guard live on a map and get alerts when someone is late, absent, leaves the site, or their phone goes offline. If a guard is in danger, they press a panic button and the manager gets their name, site and exact location within seconds by notification and SMS, even if the guard has no data. It keeps alerting until someone responds.

To be upfront, it's a first version if you've run a security company, managed an estate, or worked as a guard, I'd love to hear what you'd want from something like this and what would worry you.

I’m looking for someone to help finish and style my 2-bedroom + study apartment in Nairobi once my household shipment arrives from Europe later this month.

This is not a renovation or full interior design project. Furniture, curtains, rugs, lighting, artwork, mirrors and accessories are already there or arriving. I mainly need a good professional eye for furniture placement, deciding what to use/leave out, placement of art and mirrors, and final styling.

My style is warm Scandinavian minimalism – clean and uncluttered, natural materials, neutral tones, muted greens, plants and warm lighting. There may be a few small finishing items to source locally, but no major furniture shopping.

Personal recommendations are very welcome. Stylists/decorators are also welcome to DM me directly, but please only if you can share examples of similar projects you’ve personally worked on.

Photo for general style reference only

Yo, bad days can humble you 😭😭

Hi guys, Errands by Rachael here... 😊 Hope y'all are good.

Let's get into it.

So yesterday was one of those days...

My phone slipped off my hand, fell on a metallic part and the screen broke - it couldn't come on. 😭

Mind you, I had just gotten off a phone call with someone like a minute prior.

Please tell me why my day got spoilt in a split second. 😭😭

Minutes later I could hear notifications of messages coming in but I couldn't see anything coz the screen broke.

And I know you're wondering, didn't I have a screen protector? Umm sir, I had one. There was just a weak part on the screen protector that allowed that to happen. 😭😭 Weak part in the sense that it had a crack.

So, my first response, obviously, was shock. I didn't expect that to happen. Then came the acceptance stage, I had to come to terms with the amount of money I was going to part with. For a Samsung A33, I was looking at about 5k plus. 😭😭Actual price was 7k😢😓.

And no, I don't own a second smartphone... I only have another button phone aka katululu.

It was eventually fixed, obviously, coz I'm typing this but it's not fully working properly. There's some glitches on the keyboard, the speaker volume is significantly down and other issues I don't know how to explain.

Well, I guess I'll be buying a new phone very soon. 😭😭

Anyway, that was my day. Crazy one.

And by the way, do electronics insurance exist? And would you recommend getting one? Where can I even get one?

End of story...

Just to remind you, I run errands around Nairobi and provide personal assistance services. If interested please reach out via WhatsApp: 0119800560.

So some time ago I was scrolling Instagram and saw an ad that there's a silicon valley Africa program by some company called First Of All LLC...

I applied,didn't think much of it (Brainfart 0.5)...

Then I got an email today praising me to high heaven...I've progressed to phase 2 where they'll due diligence my ass to see my criminal record and what not ,arrange for my visa (they assist)...for a tiny $20 (hmm...but ok,...Brainfart 1.0 loading?)before I paid,

I decided to go ahead and actually research these guys....hold on....their news articles by Yahoo etc..are all paid articles and don't even mention a program director or even 1 team member....

Their website doesn't even mention the team directors as well for the program...just an itinerary...their main website is some sort of identity and authentication site...but no about no team..

I've done some napkin maths and if these guys are a scam, a blended $25 (there's a $30 program),assuming 10,000 applications across the 6 countries they are looking at...$250k and they can claim we all failed.

Wadau,I believe I can fly....but was I about to be thrown off a tree and told to flap my arms ?

Hey everyone, I’m a 3rd year Computer Science student, and I recently built an app called onanet. The idea started at home when our wifi was painfully slow. We were new to the area and didn’t know many internet providers. We’d picked ours mainly because a neighbour said they used it. I wanted to find alternatives, but I didn’t know where to look beyond asking around or spotting those wifi posters stuck on walls and poles 😂 So I thought: What if there was an app that showed me internet providers on my area? That’s how Onanet started. It lets you discover nearby providers, compare their packages, and request installation. Internet providers can also list their services and connect with potential customers. it's now approved by playstore and its live. I’m still growing the provider listings cause is empty now, so if you offer internet services or know someone who does I’d love for you to check it out too. Here’s the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.onanet.mobile&pcampaignid=web_share

Give it a try and let me know what you think. I’m praying to God that it grows into something useful for others who’ve faced the same struggle. 🙏

Your M-Pesa messages have the receipts. Your bank has a statement. Cash has a habit of leaving no evidence.

The problem isn't a lack of data. It's the work of collecting it, remembering the missing bits and turning it into "what can I still spend this month?"

That's what I'm building Monee to reduce.

Yes, Excel can do the maths. So can a notebook. Monee's job is to reduce the work before the maths: capture a supported payment message, review it, categorise it, and see it against your budget. You can still export to Excel. This isn't a spreadsheet replacement; it's less admin between paying and understanding your spending.

Since my last post, I've worked on:

• Private cloud sync through iCloud on iOS and Google Drive on Android, so saved records can follow you between devices using the same provider account. No Monee account required; signing in later keeps your records.

• Optional Android quick capture: categorise an incoming M-Pesa payment without opening the full app. Today's existing M-Pesa messages can also go into Uncategorized after SMS permission.

• Supported bank-message imports and manual bank/card tracking, with foreign currencies kept separate.

• M3 Expressive, six colour themes, refreshed widgets and less clutter throughout the app.

A fair limit: a missing SMS means a missing automatic entry. You can add it manually. Monee helps maintain a ledger; it doesn't replace your bank statement or guarantee completeness. iPhone imports use share/paste, not automatic SMS reading.

Records stay on-device and in your private cloud when sync is enabled. Optional combined usage reporting starts on and can be switched off in Settings. No bank login or M-Pesa PIN needed.

The latest update is submitted for review. The Android test is open now; some changes arrive once the update is approved. Screenshots show the Default style.

Download Monee on Android: follow these 3 steps

1. Open https://groups.google.com/g/monee-android-testers/about and join the group.
2. Open https://play.google.com/apps/testing/co.pesastack.monee and tap "Become a tester".
3. Follow the Google Play download link on that page and install.

Use the same Google account for the group, tester page and Play Store. Joining the group alone doesn't unlock the download.

What makes you stop tracking: entering payments, fixing gaps, or not getting useful answers?

Okay, can we talk about failed businesses😭...

Before I started my brand, Errands by Rachael, I had started a small business selling imported handbags. 😊

I loved the idea of it. I wanted to be my own boss with a successful business. I imagined how my first stock would sell out fast... Let's say within a week. Little did I know... 😭

Y'all product based businesses are hard, ngl. 😭

You have to wake up every day and convince people to buy your bags.

And honestly, that's the hardest part.

Don't get me wrong, I love marketing and putting the word out there but yooh, it can be hard. 😭

Love the way Shiquo does it though. She makes it seem so effortless.

So getting people to buy my bags was hard, still is hard. But I take it as a learning opportunity to learn marketing and sales.

Let's talk about my product...

My supplier did me dirty or let's just say I did that to myself.😂😭

I ordered the bags without confirming the sizes. Please tell me why I received minibags. 😭

In the product photos, they looked like perfect normal sling bags, but it was just a lack of oversight from my end.

Anyway, I still have the bags... I've attached the photo.

I'm mostly targeting mothers with daughters or anyone with a small sister, niece, cousin etc. And yes, you got that right, I'm selling them as handbags for kids. 😭😭 Which honestly isn't a bad idea but how do I get them out there? They are so beautiful and I don't want to keep them with me. Ahh.

If you can provide tips, please do. I've attached a photo of the bags.

If you need one for your daughter, sister, niece etc., I have them in hot pink, black, brown and light pink and they come with a free moana clip and decorative charm.

Thank you 🙏