Author: John Nyabuto

M-KOPA has announced it has surpassed 10 million customers across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, as demand for its smartphone financing and digital financial services continues to grow. Its “More than a Phone” platform, which combines smartphone financing with embedded insurance, credit and device protection is central to its growth. The model is designed for informal workers such as traders, boda boda riders, tailors and small business owners, a segment that has traditionally struggled to access formal financial services. “Every Day Earners have always been creditworthy. What they needed was credit built around how they really make a…

Nairobi-based travel and fintech startup Afrinity has been selected to join FasterCapital’s EquityPilot program. This is a startup support initiative designed to help early-stage companies move from concept to execution. Afrinity is building a platform that combines curated travel experiences with embedded fintech tools. This allows users to discover destinations across Africa while accessing features such as travel savings, budgeting and secure currency conversion. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Through the EquityPilot program, FasterCapital will work with the startup over the next 30 to 60 days to refine its product…

Airtel Kenya has expanded its retail presence at the Coast with the launch of four new customer experience stores across Mombasa County. The new outlets are located at Sabasaba, Airport Centre Mall, Nyali Bazaar and Likoni. They are meant to bring Airtel’s products and support services closer to customers while improving access to in-person assistance. Customers visiting the stores will be able to access a range of services, including SIM registration and replacement, Airtel Money support, customer onboarding, device assistance, and voice and data solutions for both individuals and businesses. “Our customers are at the centre of everything we do.…

Samsung has announced the launch of the Galaxy A27 5G in Kenya. The Galaxy A27 5G is the successor of the Galaxy A26 5G and comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz display. Samsung has also embraced an Infinity-O punch-hole display design with thinner bezels, giving more screen real estate in a slim 7.8mm body. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. Samsung says this processor delivers better multitasking, smoother gaming and improved power efficiency. The phone also features a new 12MP front-facing camera designed to capture more natural-looking selfies across different lighting…

Paystack and Pesalink have expanded their partnership, which will see the integration of Pesalink as a payment option on Paystack Checkout in Kenya. This will make it easier for customers to pay directly from their bank accounts while businesses will get instant payment confirmation and automated reconciliation. The integration extends an existing relationship where Pesalink already powers Paystack’s settlements and payouts. With the latest update, businesses can now offer bank account payments at checkout, creating a more seamless flow from payment initiation through to settlement and disbursement. “This builds on our existing partnership, where Pesalink already supports Paystack settlements and…

Visa and Safaricom hosted a “Game Iko On” Semi-Final Watch Party, bringing together customers, partners and football fans to celebrate their partnership and also promote the M-Pesa GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card. Developed by Visa and Safaricom, the card allows M-Pesa users to make secure international online payments directly from their M-Pesa wallet through the Visa global payments network. The event marked the culmination of the “Game Iko On” campaign, which has combined the excitement of football with digital payments to educate consumers on the convenience, security and accessibility of the M-Pesa GlobalPay Virtual Visa Card. “Football has a unique ability…

TikTok has announced a series of new initiatives with the aim to improve AI literacy, increase transparency around AI-generated content and tackle AI-generated spam as the use of artificial intelligence continues to grow on the platform. The announcements were made during the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva and form part of the company’s broader efforts to help users use AI safely and responsibly. A significant enhancement is the debut of a new in-app AI literacy hub for users in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The hub will provide educational resources to enable people to recognize AI-generated content, understand…

Flutterwave has announced a collaboration with Xoom to facilitate faster cross-border money transfers into Nigeria. The partnership connects Xoom’s global remittance network with Flutterwave’s local payout infrastructure. With this, users worldwide can send money directly to Nigerian bank accounts with improved speed and efficiency. Under the collaboration, Xoom transfers will be converted by Flutterwave and settled locally in Nigerian Naira (NGN). Recipients can receive funds directly into accounts at major banks including Access Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and other participating financial institutions. “We’re excited to have been chosen…

Samsung has unveiled its 2026 television range in Kenya. The company is bringing its new Mini LED TV range to the local market, growing its premium home entertainment portfolio. The new lineup showcases Samsung’s newest display technology with brighter visuals, richer colours, larger screen options and AI-powered viewing experiences. These experiences are designed for sports, movies, gaming and everyday entertainment. According to Samsung, the Mini LED range is powered by its Vision AI Companion, which combines intelligent picture and sound technologies to create a more personalised viewing experience. Among the new features is AI Soccer Mode, which automatically optimises picture…

Renew Capital has selected 15 startups from more than 500 applicants across 48 African countries to advance to the next stage of its inaugural Renew Venture Lab: EmFi Series, a program focused on accelerating embedded finance innovation across the continent. The selected startups will receive advanced technical training and be considered for investment after emerging from a highly competitive application process that highlighted growing interest in embedded finance solutions for Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Africa’s SMEs remain the backbone of the continent’s economies but continue to face an estimated $330 billion annual credit gap. At the same time,…