Author: Kaluka wanjala

When Sitoyo Lopokoiyit left M-PESA Africa, the big question was simple: where next? Now we have the answer. Absa Group has appointed Lopokoiyit as Chief Executive: Personal and Private Banking, effective 1 April 2026. Lopokoiyit most recently served as Managing Director of M-PESA Africa and Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom. Over more than 12 years in fintech, he helped shape M-PESA into Africa’s most dominant mobile money platform, serving over 56 million customers and more than 5 million businesses. He was instrumental in scaling the M-PESA Super App, driving Fuliza’s expansion, expanding partnerships with global platforms like PayPal and…

Westcon-Comstor has signed a new distribution agreement with California-based Networking-as-a-Service (NaaS) provider Meter, becoming the company’s first distributor across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Meter delivers a vertically integrated networking solution that bundles hardware, software and managed services into a single subscription. Unlike traditional vendors that price based on individual devices, Meter’s model is based on site size. Its platform runs on a single operating system powering switching, Wi-Fi, unified security and power infrastructure. The company positions this unified stack as ideal for distributed organisations such as retail chains, logistics operators and higher education institutions. The service also…

KCB has partnered with Visa to launch a new Business Credit Card solution for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya. The solution is meant to give SMEs better manage cashflow, control expenses and pay for everyday business needs. The business-focused credit card offers SMEs access to a revolving credit line with up to 45 days of interest-free credit. This gives entrepreneurs breathing room to manage working capital more effectively. Customers can choose between a Kenya Shillings (KES) or US Dollar (USD) card and this makes it easier to handle both local and international transactions. The solution is also built…

Konza Technopolis has been confirmed as an official participant in the global 7 Wonders of Future Cities initiative. This is a programme spotlighting emerging urban developments shaping how people will live, work, and interact in the future. The initiative is run by New7Wonders, the organisation behind global public engagement campaigns such as the New 7 Wonders of the World. The Future Cities programme focuses on planned and emerging cities that demonstrate long-term approaches to urban planning, sustainability, innovation and economic growth. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. With its inclusion, Konza…

Delta40 has closed a $20 million fundraising round to scale what it describes as Africa’s first institutional Venture Studio + Fund model. This is a hybrid approach that combines early-stage capital with hands-on venture-building support. The raise brings together 54 investors from 13 countries including development finance institutions, global foundations, family offices, high-net-worth individuals and a growing group of African founders themselves. 25 of the investors are founders backing other founders. This reinforces what Delta40 calls a “founders backing founders” ecosystem. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Originally launched in Kenya…

Safaricom has launched Ziidi Trader inside the M-PESA app making it easier for Kenyans to buy and sell shares listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) directly from their mobile phones. For M-PESA users, there is no need of opening separate accounts with brokers or downloading separate trading apps. What is Ziidi Trader? Ziidi Trader is a new investment feature built into the M-PESA app that allows customers to trade NSE-listed shares and corporate bonds directly from their phones. It is part of Safaricom’s broader Ziidi Investment Platform, which already includes Ziidi Money Market Fund (MMF) and Ziidi Shariah. With…

Wimbart has launched a new service called Wimbart Lite that aims to support pre-seed and early-stage startups that have raised under $1 million. The new offering is designed for founders and early teams that may not need full-scale, long-term PR retainers but still require professional communications support around key milestones such as product launches, partnerships and fundraising. To lead the new division, Wimbart has promoted Maria Adediran, Associate Director and a founding team member, to Head of Wimbart Lite. In her new role, Adediran will oversee strategy, new business, and delivery standards for the unit. Wimbart Lite takes a menu-based,…

NCBA Bank has become the first bank in East and Central Africa to attain dual ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 certifications.  The certifications were awarded by the British Standards Institution (BSI), a global accreditation body. They reinforce NCBA’s position as a technology-driven bank focused on protecting customer, employee and partner data at scale. ISO/IEC 27001 sets a global benchmark for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). NCBA is the first bank in East and Central Africa to attain ISO/IEC 27701 for privacy information management. This certification directly supports compliance with the Kenya Data Protection Act and the Uganda Data Protection and…

Asset financier Watu has welcomed the launch of Kenya’s E-Mobility Policy 2026. The company describes it as a major milestone in the country’s push toward clean, affordable and scalable electric mobility. The policy provides a national framework to accelerate the shift from fossil-fuel vehicles to electric alternatives. It has goals of reducing emissions, improving urban air quality and creating new opportunities across the e-mobility value chain. Speaking at the launch, Watu Kenya Country Manager Erick Massawe said the policy brings much-needed clarity and momentum to the electric vehicle (EV) sector. “The Kenya E-Mobility Policy is a game-changer for the industry.…

Absa has partnered with Microsoft Elevate and Women in Tech to expand the ElevateHer AI Programme to 9 additional African countries. The ElevateHer AI Programme was launched in South Africa and has reached more than 10,000 learners. The expansion will now see the initiative rolled out across additional African countries as Absa sharpens its focus on skills development, inclusion and responsible AI adoption. The programme leverages Absa’s pan-African footprint, Microsoft’s Elevate AI skilling platform, and Women in Tech’s community networks to train women in how to use AI tools for real-world work and business use cases. Participants learn how to…