In the early twentieth century, Nikola Tesla envisioned a world where electricity would be transmitted wirelessly between generators and the objects that use the energy. His idea was that this could occur through the air through some unseen mechanism, and he spent most of his life working towards this dream. Of course, that isn’t how things worked out in reality. What happened instead was physical cords and traditional plugs with true wireless technology never really emerging at a mass scale.

What’s already happening today?

Interestingly though Tesla’s vision is starting to become a reality on a small scale. Companies are investing in short-range inductive charging, which is now mainstream. This includes wireless charging pads for phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and other small devices. Even some kitchen tools now have these systems, which means that home owners don’t have to plug them in all the time to get them to work. They can simply place them back in their bay and use wireless technology to charge them up.

True over-the-air wireless power, which transmits energy over several meters, is still relatively rare but it is becoming a possibility in commercial settings. For example, Wi Charge is a company that uses infrared and light-based beaming to deliver power to sensors and digital signage. These devices are quite small but they work highly effectively and have been demoed at trade shows throughout the last 12 months. Other companies are using radio frequency as a wireless power source for Internet of Things devices. These technologies allow sensors and batteries to be location-independent and not plugged into specific circuits.

Broader adoption

Various advances are now pointing to the idea that long-range power beaming could be adopted more broadly. Tesla’s original idea was that power would be transferred in a similar way to how lightning works, and there would be sudden static discharges of energy. However, given the delicate nature of modern electronics, this no longer seems feasible. What’s more likely is that microwaves and lasers will be used. These are other forms of electromagnetic radiation which are relatively easy to convert back into electrical currents.

The US secret military technology agency DARPA has already demonstrated long-range power beaming of hundreds of watts over several kilometers. This technology it hopes will be used to power combat vehicles, robots and drones in future wars. The technology is fundamentally being developed by the government because of its innate usefulness. While it has military applications right now, it is likely that it will see civilian applications in the near future. However, the government isn’t the only entity that is investing in the broader adoption of wireless technology. Other startups like Willow are also doing the same for homeowners. They’re demonstrating wireless charging demos for consumer devices that promise to make properties and dwellings cable-free in the future.

A particularly hot area is the topic of kitchen appliances. Many people have too many of these in their kitchens, and wires can clutter up countertops. Finding a way to power these remotely using microwaves or other forms of electromagnetic radiation could be a great way to make minimalist living more practical.

The market projections for this trend are looking good right now. According to official data, the global wireless transmission market is worth around $5-17 billion per day. However, it is going to double over the next 6 years to more than $37 billion because of the rise in demand for smart homes, electric vehicles, and Internet of Things technologies. Consumer electronics is going to drive the development of the underlying technology so that it can move out of military applications and into homes.

This sort of technology would be useful for a battery lawn mower and other appliances that use up large amounts of electricity during operation. These devices tend to run down quickly, but if there was a way to supply them with energy remotely, owners could keep using them all day.

What a switch to a fully cordless home requires

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Homes were obviously fully cordless in the distant past, but they didn’t have any of the modern conveniences that we enjoy today. That’s essentially why we put up with all of these cords. We want to be able to power our large appliances like our fridges, ovens, and washers. We also need wiring for climate control and even basic lighting.

Unfortunately, there are some significant hurdles to fully cordless homes of the future. The main problem is efficiency. Transmitting electrons through copper wires is very efficient compared to beaming power over distances. The problem with beaming energy is that it loses its potency as it travels. Some forms of energy can become more diffuse, making them less useful. There is also the cost of installing transmitters all over a property in the walls and ceilings. These would need to be high-powered and focused in the right direction.

Then there is the power scale. Most wireless transmission technology is in the milliwatt to the tens of watts. It’s about the same amount of power that you would need to light a conventional LED, but of course this power scale is too small for most modern homes. A lot of families use kilowatts of power, not just a few watts here and there. Clearly regulators are going to be looking into this as well once the technology starts to take off. They’ll need to know that it’s keeping people safe.

Realistic timeline

What can we expect to happen on this front in the future over the next three to seven years? It’s likely that homes will become more cordless for low and medium power devices. This means that things like laptops and cordless kitchen appliances will no longer need wires to keep them running. After the 2030s, it could be possible to embed transmitters across homes, but the technology would have to improve. Also, high-powered beaming would need to be proven safe before mass consumer adoption.

Right now, we’re sort of in an early stage with this technology. Wireless cops have been proven, but it’s a case of rolling them out commercially.

In Kenya’s cemeteries, quiet spaces often associated with grief and remembrance, a modest but steadily growing industry is taking root.

Grave decoration, once limited to simple flowers and occasional repainting, is evolving into a specialized business offering customized designs, landscaping, maintenance, and memorial branding.

Honouring the dead through decorated graves is not new in Kenya. Across communities, families have long marked burial sites with flowers, stones, and symbolic items.

However, urbanization, migration, and changing lifestyles have altered how families maintain these sites. Many relatives now live far from ancestral homes or cemeteries, creating demand for paid services to keep graves neat and dignified year-round.

Despite its income potential, grave decoration is rarely discussed as a viable business. Cultural sensitivity plays a role with many Kenyans uncomfortable to openly commercialize activities linked to death. 

The few individuals who have filled their boots in the sector say the business is well-paying. Charles Karanja from Kiambu is one of the businessmen earning from grave decoration, an opportunity that came by chance.

How It All Started

When Karanja graduated after pursuing a construction course, getting a job was not easy, a situation that forced him to look for opportunities in other sectors.

With good skills in construction, he found a construction gap that needed to be filled, only that his audience this time would be the dead.

He started to paint and embellish graveyards to give the deceased a nice resting home. Karanja revealed he settled on painting graves because it was an untapped market.

He did his first project using internet technology because he had not done such work before. The output was so encouraging, inspiring him to do more.

“I build graves and embellish them. People are constantly coming up with new methods to honor the deceased. A long time ago, people were buried in the bush, or a banana plant was planted to serve as a marker for the graves, but today, people honor and remember their loved ones.

“In a unique way, I assist them in doing that. A person’s special home remains thereafter burial for all time. So it’s good that you respect the deceased and value that individual,” Karanja said.

The Kiambu-based grave decorator revealed he earns Sh300,000 in a good month and Sh150,000 in a bad one. His normal rate for a project is Sh60,000, which has enabled him to create employment for other young people.

“I have a managing director, seven regular employees, and a few temporary employees. I had no money when I started. My business was launched with the help of a client’s down payment, “He said.

Just like any other business, Karanja has sailed through a myriad of challenges, among them financial constraints and unruly customer behaviors.

“Yes, I do face obstacles, particularly financial ones. There are situations when a client underpays you and might even refuse to pay. You are required to follow up by phone, particularly if they are outside of Kiambu. People would disregard and even block you, “He said.

He plans to expand his business so as to create employment for more young Kenyans and solve the challenge of joblessness in the country.

“I aim to reach higher, where I would be the best decorator in the country. I also want to inspire the youth and employ more of them as I open more workshops,” he added.

Also Read: Simple practical skills that can move you from joblessness to millionaire

Co-operative Bank has launched a mega financing program for Kenyans looking to acquire public service vehicles. Over the past one week alone, Co-op Bank has rolled out 31 brand new 33-seater matatus.

These matatus are part of two multi-million deals through which the bank is financing the acquisition of public service vehicles for two Saccos.

In the first deal, the bank rolled out 21 matatus for the MetroTrans Sacco, marking the first phase of an 85-bus asset financing programme valued at Sh590 million.

In the second deal, the bank rolled out ten 33-seater buses for Raj Safaris Limited. These matatus are part of an asset finance deal for 20 buses worth Sh113 million. With financing from the bank, Raj Safaris has gone from leasing 15 buses two years ago to full ownership.

Under its asset financing programme, the bank is providing up to 90 percent financing with a 60-month repayment period. At the same time, the lender is also providing insurance financing and support for digital, cashless fare collection systems.

“Public transport is not a side economy in Kenya, it is a core economic artery that moves millions of people to work, school, and commerce every day,” says Alex Mwanthi, the Head of Transport, Housing and Investment Cooperatives at the Co-operative Bank of Kenya.

“Our role is to ensure operators can access financing that reflects the real operating models of this sector and supports long-term, disciplined growth.”

The bank currently commands approximately 70 percent of the market share in financing Kenya’s public transport sector, positioning it as the leading institutional financier of PSV and Sacco-based fleet investments.

The bank’s transport-focused financing model has supported hundreds of operators in renewing fleets, professionalizing operations, and improving service reliability.

Read More: Co-op Bank leads 11 Kenyan firms named among fastest growing in Africa

Over the past months, the bank has broadened its asset financing package, including the financing of 60 brand new Forward Travellers Sacco buses worth over Sh313.5 million. The lender has invested more than Sh10 billion in the last few years to finance over 2,000 matatus to PSV Saccos and companies through leasing and direct hire purchase arrangements.

The bank has also been the force behind the financing scheme that provides a ninety-five per cent financing option for Isuzu N-series, Isuzu F-series and Isuzu pick-ups TFS and TFR Series in a partnership with Isuzu East Africa.