Movie renting at doorstep...

By FREDRICK OBURA

Nairobi residents can now enjoy entertainment by renting their favourite movies over the Internet, and get delivered to their place of choice.

A local media company, Famiflix Rentals, has launched a system known as famiflix.com, which allows one to shop and get "original" family movies delivered to their premises. The system is the first of its kind in the country.

"This will be an alternative to the traditional video rental stores that stores Hollywood releases mostly whose catalogue is mostly comprised of "R-rated" titles with sex, violence, nudity and profanity,’ said Jackline Omondi the founder Famiflix said.

According to the firm, the idea is to help Kenyans enjoy the experience of e-commerce, maximise on the abundant Internet and help many concentrate on their core business.

TRADITIONAL SHOPPING

"Electronic trade is the way to go, time would be saved and the energy spent on traditional shopping would be channeled on to other duties," she said.

"On paying a prepaid fee of Sh1000 either through M-Pesa or Zap, a user would be able to get movie of choice on a given period of time, always between two days and one week," she said. "Our selections are made up of Christian movies, documentaries, family movies, children DVDs, as well as movies on financial management, marriage, parenting and careers."

"We hope to join other Internet businesses and provide our users with the opportunity to rent movies, games and have them delivered and picked-up free of charge from their homes or offices," she said.

The advent of cheap Internet through the submarine fiber optic cable has over the last few years seen sharp rise in e-commerce across the country.

Individuals without elaborate budget to rent office space and pay staff salaries find easy option to e-commerce. "One can easily set up online business within the residential area, only you need to have is a stable Internet and a computer," says Ms Omondi, adding: "The market is also limitless owing to the borderless nature of Internet." Other sites like pewahewa, enrakenya, Kalahari, find.co.ke, maduqa and Mzoori are among many local e-commerce sites.

Towards the end of last year, the City Council of Nairobi announced it would extend numbering of commercial buildings, hoping to boost e-commerce.