Author: John Nyabuto

The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has published the Draft Kenya Artificial Intelligence and Other Emerging Technologies Policy for public participation. The ministry is inviting feedback from innovators, researchers, academia, startups, private sector players, civil society, investors and members of the public before 4 August 2026, after which the policy is expected to be refined ahead of adoption. According to the draft, the policy aims to create a unified national framework to guide the governance, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence across Kenya while balancing innovation with safeguards around privacy, security, ethics and public trust. It…

The Mastercard Foundation has unveiled the Africa Higher Education for Transformation (AHEFT) Prize, a new initiative backed by a $500 million commitment over the next decade to recognize African universities delivering lasting institutional transformation and expanding opportunities for young people. The inaugural edition of the annual prize has named five universities from across the continent, with each institution set to receive $3 million to scale initiatives that improve education and employment outcomes. The first AHEFT Prize laureates are: According to the Mastercard Foundation, the prize aims to spotlight institutions that are creating measurable impact in areas such as teaching, research,…

TikTok removed 884,591 videos in Kenya during the first quarter of 2026 for breaching its Community Guidelines. That’s what the platform said in its most recent Community Guidelines Enforcement Report. The report shows that 99.7% of the videos were removed proactively before being reported by users, while 96.3% were taken down within 24 hours of being posted. As part of its efforts to protect younger users, TikTok also removed 48,739 accounts in Kenya that were suspected of belonging to users under the age of 13, which is against the platform’s policies. In Kenya, the platform interrupted 103,847 LIVE sessions for…

LemFi has partnered with BVNK to move its cross-border settlement infrastructure onto regulated stablecoin rails. The partnership enables near-instant settlement behind the scenes while keeping the customer experience unchanged. Users will continue sending and receiving money in their local currencies without needing to hold or interact with stablecoins. LemFi says the new infrastructure will help reduce reliance on traditional correspondent banking and SWIFT networks, which can be slower and more expensive. “The money that crosses borders still moves on rails built decades ago,” said Ridwan Olalere, co-founder and CEO of LemFi. “Stablecoins let us settle near-instantly and reduce costs, while…

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…