Two MSN portals dedicated to Kenyan and Nigerian news have recently launched through a partnership between Microsoft and South Africa-based Kagiso Media, PC Tech magazine reported. Second to Nigeria, MSN Kenya is the largest site featuring localized entertainment, sports and news coverage.

MSN’s aim is to produce premium content through building a network with local publishers and stakeholders, according to PC Tech magazine. Readers in Kenya — where internet penetration has risen to 40 percent — can access the site via MSN, TMX and electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones.

“With more than 10 million internet users in Kenya, we think that MSN Kenya is going to be an excellent platform for brands that want to market their products and services to the country’s fast-growing middle-class,” Marcus Stephens, Kagiso Media general manager, said in the report. “Kenya is a truly exciting opportunity for us to serve readers and advertisers with a local version of a world-class product.”

PC Tech magazine reported that MSN Kenya has been visited by 600,000 unique visitors. Soon both sites will include a space for bloggers and writers to contribute ideas for improvement and engagement.

“We are all about getting closer to our users. Actually that is what the whole strategy is all about,” Asli Yerdekalmazer, Microsoft executive producer for the Middle East and Africa said. “We want to give a platform for local heroes and to be a voice of people in the streets.”