Author: Kaluka wanjala

Absa Bank Kenya, in partnership with GirlCode, has kicked off a 30-hour Women-in-Tech Hackathon that will see 112 young women aged between 18 and 35 compete to build digital solutions shaping the future of Africa’s financial ecosystem. Themed “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI,” the hackathon begins on October 11–12, 2025, at Absa’s headquarters in Westlands. It forms part of a pan-African initiative running simultaneously across seven cities in five countries, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Kampala, Gaborone, and Dar es Salaam, with a grand continental prize of USD 5,500 up for grabs. The participants…

Global technology distributor Westcon-Comstor and Microsoft have announced new partner investments and enablement programs to help African businesses seize opportunities in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The announcement came during the Westcon Microsoft Partner Summit 2025, held in Nairobi under the theme “Transformation that Builds Tomorrow.” The summit brought together top IT partners, service providers, and Microsoft stakeholders from across Sub-Saharan Africa to explore how the tech giant’s latest roadmap can be translated into tangible business outcomes across the continent. According to Vincent Entonu, Managing Director for Africa at Westcon-Comstor, the company’s focus is on simplifying digital transformation for its…

Safaricom has partnered with Huawei, has unveiled VybCall, Kenya’s first Video Ring Back Tone (VRBT) service. This is a new spin to the Skiza experience we are used to. VybCall is replacing the traditional ringback tone or audio tune with short-form video clips. Instead of hearing a song while waiting for someone to pick up, callers will now see curated videos. Safaricom says this offers a more immersive and personalised experience. A First in Africa Kenya is the first country in Africa to roll out a Video Ring Back Tone service and the 3rd in the world to do so.…

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is one of the latest in Samsung’s A-series lineup. This phone is available in Kenya for Ksh 31,800 and it might just be the brand’s best midrange release yet. From performance to camera to AI, this phone brings a lot to the table for the price. Here is everything you need to know 1. Display and Design The Galaxy A36 5G comes with a 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up from 90Hz on the A26.Colors are vibrant, motion feels fluid, and the phone’s flat design with slimmer bezels makes it…

Sanlam Kenya has unveiled Sanlam Akiba Plus, a mobile-first, tech-driven pension platform designed to make saving for retirement easier, more flexible, and more inclusive for both individuals and businesses. “Our goal with Akiba Plus is to close the pension gap in Kenya by offering a simple, credible, and future-ready solution that works for everyone,” said Jacqueline Karasha, CEO of Sanlam Life, during the launch event in Nairobi. “This is about helping Kenyans save consistently and retire with dignity.” Unlike traditional pension plans that rely on paperwork and physical onboarding, Akiba Plus lives entirely online. Users can self-register, make contributions and…

When Safaricom says its “True Value” hit KSh 1.1 trillion in FY2025, 16 times greater than its financial profit, the number may sound abstract. But behind it lies a profound statement about how corporate success in Kenya is being redefined. The True Value Assessment, developed with KPMG, measures how much value Safaricom creates (or erodes) for society. This includes employment and innovation and even environmental stewardship. It represents more than shareholder profit and includes the impact the company has on its customers, communities and even the planet. Safaricom’s KSh 1.1 trillion True Value is a great contribution to Kenya’s economy…

Safaricom’s economic, social and environmental impact has reached KSh 1.1 trillion, according to its latest Sustainable Business Report 2025. The “True Value” figure is 16 times greater than the company’s financial profit. The report, themed “Anchored on Purpose, Accelerating a Digital Future,” quantifies the telco’s holistic value to society beyond profit, capturing the impact of initiatives in digital inclusion, financial access, climate action, and corporate governance. “At the heart of our journey is sustainability, embedded not as an obligation, but as a business imperative,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC. “Now in our 14th year of publishing our…

Tesh Mbaabu has announced the launch of a new venture called Cloud9. He refers to this as a fintech startup that aims to redefine how young Africans experience banking. He previously co-founded MarketForce with Mesongo Sibuti. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. MarketForce began as a sales automation platform before evolving into RejaReja, a B2B retail marketplace helping informal merchants source and pay for inventory digitally. The startup went through Y Combinator and raised a $2 million seed round. It later closed a $40 million Series A round in 2022. The…

itel has announced the launch of the itel SUPER 26 Ultra in Kenya. The phone is available in Kenya for KES 20,499. The phone blends premium design, powerful performance and intelligent AI features at a price few competitors can match. The SUPER 26 Ultra is built around a 6.78-inch 3D Curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and an ultra-smooth 144Hz refresh rate. This delivers a viewing experience rarely seen in this price range. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, and the phone’s TitanShield Architecture gives it added strength. The phone has an IP65 rating for dust…

Safaricom Business hosted an exclusive breakfast session for senior IT and security executives. The session showcased its Managed Security Operations Centre (MSOC) and its role in strengthening enterprise resilience. Participants were taken through live threat simulations and demonstrations of MSOC’s analytics-driven monitoring tools, which provide real-time detection and response capabilities. “Enterprises can no longer treat security as an afterthought; it is now central to business continuity and reputation. Through our MSOC, we equip organisations with the tools and expertise needed to identify threats early and respond decisively,” said Frankline Okata, Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Safaricom. Kenya’s Rising Cyber…