Whatsapp has announced it is rolling out a new feature called ‘Communities’ over the coming two months enabling users to bring together separate groups under one umbrella.

According to Whatsapp, the feature will let people receive updates sent to the entire Community and easily organize smaller discussion groups on what matters to them.

According to recent statistics, the number of internet users using WhatsApp monthly in Africa stands as follows:

* 95.4% in South Africa
* 93.5% in Kenya
* 91.9% in Nigeria
* 89.9% in Ghana pic.twitter.com/5SrCkib2QI

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) December 2, 2022

Back in April 2022, Whatsapp said the feature would introduce new tools for admins including announcement messages that are sent to everyone and control over which groups can be included.

While the tool may yet reflect on your Messenger app, Whatsapp provided directions on how to access the major update:

• To get started, tap on the new communities tab at the top of your chats on Android and at the bottom on iOS
• From there, you can start a new Community from scratch or add an existing group

“Once you’re in a community, you can easily switch between available groups to get the information you need, when you need it, and admins can send important updates to everyone in the Community.”

The new feature could be a fan favorite to blockchain and crypto communities across Africa where Whatsapp is the preferred chat and group platform. Communities in the crypto sector also use Discord and Telegram but Whatsapp has unrivaled reach where about 90% of African internet users visit the platform monthly.

According to Statista:

• Approximately 95.4% of internet users in South Africa reported using WhatsApp every month
• In Nigeria, 91.9% of internet users use WhatsApp
• In Kenya, 93.5%
• In Ghana, 89.9%

WhatsApp added that Communities will introduce a level of trust and privacy not offered by other platforms which compromise on this for their group features.

“The alternatives available today require trusting apps or software companies with a copy of their messages – and we think they deserve the higher level of security provided by end-to-end encryption.” 

In addition to Communities, the chat messenger is also introducing 3 more features:

• The ability to create in-chat polls
• 32-person video calling
• Groups with up to 1,024 users

Whatsapp decided to introduce the 4 features after engaging 50 organizations in 15 countries on how they were using the application.

“We think Communities will make it easier for a school principal to bring all the parents of the school together to share must-read updates and set up groups about specific classes, extracurricular activities, or volunteer needs.”

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Just 24 hours after it was launched, the Kenya government’s Hustler Fund sent over 413 million Ksh ($3.3 million) in loans while receiving Ksh 7.7 million ($62,805) in repayments.

On December 1 2022, Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary, Simon Chelugui, said 1.14 million Kenyans had fully registered to access loans and saving opportunities on the platform said to be available to all Kenyans above 18.

Kenyans can access the fund via USSD by dialing *254# from any of the country’s three mobile phone network providers. It is also possible to apply for a loan through the mobile applications of the three telcos.

The Hustler fund is a signature campaign promise by Kenya’s President, Willliam Ruto, who launched the fund’s first product on 30th November 2022.

Today, we have kept our commitment to connect millions of ordinary Kenyans with access to affordable credit. pic.twitter.com/jXr5EmRJKU

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 30, 2022

“The Hustler Fund will help small business owners, liberate ordinary Kenyans from shylocks and help establish a culture of saving, investment, and social security. We will unshackle millions of Kenyans from the chains of debts that they are unable to pay,” said Ruto at the launch ceremony.

In addition to a personal finance product, the government intends to launch 3 more products from the fund:

• Microloans
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) loans
• Start-up loans

Here are more details about the Hustler Fund:

• The repayment period for loans for small businesses through the Hustler Fund will be capped at 14 days and loans start at a minimum of Sh500 (limit) while the largest amount advanced will be Sh50,000 at an annualized interest rate of 8%

• If a customer borrows Sh500 ($4.08) they will pay back Sh501.53 ($4.09) after 14 days, representing Sh1.53 in interest. At eight percent per month, the interest is lower than the latest average bank borrowing cost of 12.38%

• The fund totaling over $407 million will see customers who have not refunded the facility in 14 days get an extra 15 days to repay and if the loan is still not settled, the interest rate increases to 9.5% per year

• Hustler loan defaulters will not be listed by credit reference bureaus (CRBs) ensuring their default on the Hustler Fund won’t impact their credit score with other lenders

• The fund is part of a plan to attract more savings from the Kenyan people. When a customer borrows, the approved loan is sent to their mobile money account; 95% is sent to their mobile money wallet, while 5% is sent to a savings account

• The 5% that goes toward the savings plan is split into 30% for short-term savings and 70% for long-term (pension) savings

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