According to the 2020 Global Connectivity Index (GCI) by giant tech firm Huawei, Kenya ranked 70 out of the sampled 79 countries when it comes to connectivity and technology penetration, with an average score of 31 out of 120.
The country scored the best in Broadband connectivity with a score of 62 out of 120, representing a 20 points growth. It, however, ranked poorly when it comes to Cloud services, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.
The report shows that a majority of Kenyans still prefer using traditional tools and applications such as USSD for their daily and important transactions. In the East and Central African region, Kenya has been christened the region's powerhouse when it comes to technology and this is in line with Vision 2030 launched in 2008 during President (Rtd.) Mwai Kibaki’s regime.
The incorporation of mobile phone services and technology in service delivery is at the centre of this paradigm shift, improving efficiency and reducing the time spent in carrying out basic transactions.
Consequently, a number of services were automated and made available to citizens at the comfort of their mobile phones in the form of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes.
Kenyans.co.ke has compiled some of the most useful codes Kenyans need to have at the top of their minds.
Hustler Fund
The Hustler Fund is loan service runs by the government which enables eligible Kenyans to access personal and business loans at affordable rates. Each applicant has a personal loan limit depending on their credit score.
To access the loan, dial *254# to sign up, including accepting the terms and conditions. Loanees can choose between Hustler Fund and the Women's Fund.
Unclaimed Assets
On January 23, the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) revealed that the value of unclaimed assets stood at Ksh55 billion. UFAA stated that Kenyans have only filed 23,134 claims totaling to Ksh1.5 billion since 2014.
While the assumption is that the unclaimed assets belong to the affluent in society, UFAA has encouraged Kenyans to check if they have unclaimed assets. Kenyans can do this by dialling *361#.
CRB Listing
As of February 2021, 14 million Kenyans had been blacklisted by the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB). Despite an executive order by the Central Bank Governor (CBK), Patrick Njoroge, to have all listed individuals owing below Ksh5 million to be delisted, a number of micro-lending institutions are yet to implement the same.
Notably, CRB listing can either be positive or negative. One can check their listing, status, and credit score by dialling *433#.
NHIF
The government offers affordable medical insurance to citizens through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). The scheme offers a cover to both self employed and those working in the public and private sectors.
NHIF registration can be done using the USSD code *155#. Enrolled members can check their status, make payments, update their beneficiaries and make payments at the comfort of their phones.
NSSF
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is a scheme responsible for collecting, safekeeping, investment and distribution of retirement funds of employees in the formal and informal sectors.
Members of NSSF can access services by dialling *303#.
HELB
Every year, nearly one million students are admitted to various universities and colleges across the country. Despite performing exceptionally well, the majority of students are unable to raise school fees to pursue tertiary education.
Consequently, the government established the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to provide affordable loans to needy students. Qualified applicants can enroll, apply for loans and follow their distribution using the *642# code.
Kenya Power
Gone are the days when Kenyans would queue for hours at the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) offices to check and pay their electricity bills. Now, the power distributor has automated the process making all these services available by dialling *977#.
Nairobi Water
The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO), popularly known as Nairobi Water, is charged with supplying and billing water and providing sewer services in the capital. Kenyans can access their bills and mini-statements by dialling *888#.
Nairobi County Services
The Nairobi City County Government offers a plethora of services ranging from parking, business licensing, land services, essential services, property and advertisement services. Residents can access them by dialling *235#.
NTSA
Kenyans can access a range of services from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) by sending their identification (ID) numbers to 22846 using the format ID12345678. These include verification of driving licences, motor vehicle registration and ownership, and public service vehicle (PSV) licences.
KEBS
Over the years, the Kenyan market has become the dumping site for counterfeit products. To curb this influx, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has provided a toll number, 20023, where Kenyans can verify the KEBS marks on quality on various products.
In addition, it is important for Kenyans to have emergency numbers. The National Police Service hotline numbers are 911, 999 and 112.
