Author: Kaluka wanjala

Kenya has made significant strides in its efforts to become a technology hub in Africa. With the growing demand for smartphones, the Kenyan government has set its sights on locally assembling smartphones, a move that could have a significant impact on the country’s economy. This was announced by Eliud Owalo, the CS ICT and Digital Economy, at the Connected Kenya 2023 summit. This decision is not only aimed at reducing the cost of smartphones but also at creating job opportunities and enhancing the country’s technology capabilities. Last week, HMD Global confirmed that they do have plans to manufacture some of…

MFS Africa has teamed up with Access Bank, Nigeria’s largest bank, to broaden the remittance corridors of AccessAfrica, which enables customers to easily transfer and receive money worldwide from loved ones and business associates. This collaboration will provide straightforward transfers for AccessAfrica clients, allowing real-time, cost-effective cross-border payments for individuals and companies who want to send financial support to their families abroad or facilitate trade transactions. MFS Africa is the largest digital payments network in Africa, operating in over 35 African countries. The partnership between Access Bank and MFS Africa will allow AccessAfrica customers to receive payments from all over…

Cellulant has announced the launch of a comprehensive payments infrastructure that aims to revolutionize how businesses in Africa make and receive payments. The move comes as the payments market in Africa is experiencing rapid growth, thanks to advancements in peer-to-peer (P2P) and consumer-to-business (C2B) payment solutions. The fragmented nature of payment processing has long been a significant challenge for businesses seeking to establish a presence in Africa. However, Cellulant aims to solve this problem with a single API payment platform that allows businesses to collect payments both online and offline. The platform also allows anyone to pay from their mobile…

LG Electronics East Africa has announced a significant price reduction of up to 21% on select refrigerators and washing machines ahead of the Easter season. The price cut will be applicable between March 27th, 2023 to May 7th, 2023, providing customers with an opportunity to save between Kes 7,000 and Kes 50,000 on their appliance purchases. The move is aimed at making LG Electronics’ high-quality appliances more affordable to customers and enabling them to live the life they deserve. The price cut applies to refrigerators and washing machines, and it is expected to encourage more people to take advantage of…

Foldable phones have been on the market for a few years now, and according to a press release by International Data Corporation (IDC), they are gaining popularity at an impressive rate. IDC has projected that worldwide shipments of foldable phones, including flip and fold form factors, will reach 21.4 million units in 2023, an increase of more than 50% over the 14.2 million units shipped in 2022. By 2027, IDC expects worldwide shipments to reach 48.1 million units with a market value of $42 billion, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.6% from 2022 to 2027. Foldable smartphones…

The Kenyan government has dropped a policy requiring foreign-owned firms to sell at least 30% of their stakes to local investors after US-based tech giant Amazon successfully lobbied President William Ruto to remove the foreign ownership rule. This is being reported by the Business Daily. Airtel Kenya will be the biggest beneficiary of this policy shift since it had started looking for Kenyan investors to buy the required 30% stake. The policy change is expected to attract more foreign investors in the country’s expanding IT sector, which has been growing rapidly and is attracting the interest of many foreign companies.…

Infinix is set to launch its next smartphone series in Kenya next week. The company has confirmed that the Infinix Hot 30 series will be launched on 7th April. This will be the successor to the Infinix Hot 20 series from last year. The Infinix Hot series is one of its affordable devices and the Hot 30 will be the first major release from the company in Kenya this year. According to Infinix, we should expect a sleek design and powerful performance from this series. The company says the Hot 30 is equipped with the latest software and hardware, comes…

Earlier this month, we told you that SEACOM was looking for a new successor after Oliver Fortuin Stepped Down. Fortuin’s decision to leave SEACOM comes as a result of his desire to be closer to his adult children who have relocated overseas. SEACOM has today announced the appointment of Alpheus Mangale as its new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective April 1, 2023. Mangale is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of experience in enterprise, telecoms, financial services, and technology markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He previously spent 16 years at Dimension Data Group (now…

HMD Global is expanding its portfolio in Kenya with the launch of the new Nokia G60 5G smartphone. The phone is available in retail stores starting from Ksh 53,000. This device boasts a range of new features that are sure to excite tech enthusiasts and eco-conscious consumers alike. One of the standout features of the Nokia G60 5G is its environmentally conscious design. The phone is built from a high percentage of recycled materials, with a 100% recycled plastic back and a 60% recycled plastic frame. Not only is this great news for the environment, but it also ensures that…

HMD Global plans to assemble some Nokia smartphones in Kenya if all goes as planned. The company is planning to set up local assembly plants with its partners and as soon as things are ready to go, it will make the official announcement. Plans are at an advanced stage with trials being carried out but the company was not generous with information but said that as soon as they have everything planned, they will share all the details with the public. The company will assemble both smartphones and feature phones in the local assemble facility. This is a significant development…