Author: Kaluka wanjala

Nigeria’s Zenith Bank Plc is officially entering the Kenyan banking market after receiving regulatory approval to acquire 100 percent of Paramount Bank Limited according to the Business Daily. The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) approved the transaction on the condition that Zenith Bank retains Paramount Bank’s current staff for at least 12 months after the deal is completed. According to the regulator, the acquisition will not harm competition in the banking sector or raise public interest concerns. “The Authority approved the proposed acquisition of 100 percent shareholding of Paramount Bank Limited by Zenith Bank Plc, on condition that the acquirer…

Flutterwave has today announced the launch of stablecoin balances for its merchants and users. The new offering is powered through partnerships with Turnkey, a blockchain infrastructure provider and Nuvion, an AI-powered global banking and payments platform built on both fiat and stablecoin rails. Together, the trio is enabling Flutterwave users to hold and transact in stablecoins directly within the Flutterwave ecosystem. “To accelerate business growth in Africa, we must make it safe, easy, and affordable for businesses to accept all forms of regulated payment methods, including stablecoin, from a global customer base,” said Nkem Abuah, Lead, GEPP ROW, Remittances &…

South Africa’s Nedbank Group has announced plans to acquire a controlling 66% stake in NCBA Group. If completed, the deal will see NCBA become a subsidiary of Nedbank, while the remaining 34 per cent of shares will stay listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). The proposed transaction values NCBA at 1.4 times its book value. Under the proposed structure, shareholders who participate in the offer will receive 20% of the consideration in cash. The remaining 80% paid in Nedbank shares listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). NCBA currently operates across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ivory Coast and Ghana.…

Sun King has officially launched the HomePlus Max. This is its most advanced solar home system yet and it’s designed to do far more than just light up a room. The new HomePlus Max introduces a level of power and flexibility that pushes solar home systems closer to what grid electricity offers. It can illuminate up to four rooms at near grid-level brightness, charge smartphones and laptops and power DC appliances like a 43-inch HD TV, pedestal fan and radio. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. What really sets the HomePlus…

Safaricom is preparing to launch a new tokenised Wi-Fi service that will allow customers to buy internet access in hourly, daily, and weekly packages. This will be a major shift in how fixed broadband is sold in Kenya and Ethiopia according to the Business Daily. The Telco has recently appointed Sylvia Anampiu as the new Director of Fixed Business, and she will help lead this initiative. The move brings the familiar pay-as-you-go model that has long been used in mobile data into the fixed internet space. Users will be able to pay only for the time they need instead of committing…

Telecom operators are under pressure to turn next-gen connectivity into real business value as 5G Standalone (SA) networks roll out across the world. One of the biggest opportunities lies in network slicing. This is the ability to create multiple virtual networks on a single 5G infrastructure, each optimised for specific use cases like gaming, live events, or mission-critical services. To sell premium, SLA-backed services, operators need to see everything and that’s where NETSCOUT comes in. The cybersecurity and observability company has announced how its advanced 5G observability solutions are helping Communications Service Providers (CSPs deliver reliable, high-performance network slicing services…

Paystack has today announced the launch of The Stack Group (TSG). This will be the new parent holding company that will house a family of tech-focused brands including Paystack, Paystack Microfinance Bank (MFB), Zap and TSG Labs. The announcement comes as Paystack celebrates its 10-year anniversary in January 2026 and reports strong financial momentum following its acquisition by global payments giant Stripe in 2020. Since then, Paystack says its payment volume has grown more than 12x and the group is now profitable at the holding company level. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact…

Konza Technopolis partnered with the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) to host the Magical Kenya Trail Series 2026 Youth Hackathon in Nandi County. This 24-hour innovation sprint explored how technology can be used to unlock new value in tourism, culture and local economies. the theme was “Innovating Culture, Tourism and Youth Skills for Sustainable Community Growth,” participants tackled real-world challenges across three key areas: The goal was to use technology to turn local insight into scalable, market-ready solutions that can grow jobs and opportunity at the grassroots level. Over 50 innovators from institutions including Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), Eldohub,…

For many Kenyan households, after-sales support is still a frustrating maze of unreliable technicians, substandard parts, long wait times and wasted weekends hauling bulky appliances across town. LG is betting that this experience doesn’t have to be the norm. With the launch of its Best Care Trailer, LG is using mobile service units to rethink how after-sales support works in Kenya. This shifts it from reactive, inconvenient and risky to proactive, accessible, and trustworthy. After-sales is broken Kenyans spend a lot of time researching specs, prices, and brands before buying appliances. But what happens after the purchase? That’s where things…

Safaricom has appointed Sylvia Anampiu as the new Director of Fixed Business. The telco plans to roll out flexible, prepaid fibre and tokenized Wi-Fi access, bringing daily, weekly and monthly broadband options to homes and businesses across the country. Anampiu took over the role on January 5, 2026, and will lead strategy, growth, and profitability for Safaricom’s fixed broadband operations. Her appointment comes as the company prepares to shift from rigid monthly plans to flexible, time-based bundles, mirroring the approach that transformed mobile data in Kenya. Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO, said fixed broadband sits at the center of the group’s…