Author: Kaluka wanjala

Old Mutual is taking a new approach to financial and digital wellness through its wellness app named Thrive. This app uses behavior-driven engagement, strategic partnerships and data-driven insights to craft solutions that help users make better financial decisions. We had a chat with Dr. Isaac Nzyoka, COO of Old Mutual Group, who explained to us the app’s strategy, growth and upcoming features. Thrive’s Strategy When asked where Thrive fits into Old Mutual’s revenue approach, Dr. Nzyoka said that the app operates on three main fronts: Dr. Nzyoka said that partnerships are carefully curated to ensure they improve user experience. Thy…

Old Mutual Holdings today reported a profit after tax of KES 856 million for the year ended December 2025.This represents a 2% growth from KES 838 million the company recorded back in 2024. The Group’s performance was supported by strong gains in its core businesses, particularly asset management and life insurance, alongside growing traction in its digital platforms. “Our performance reflects the resilience of our diversified portfolio and the discipline of our execution in a dynamic operating environment,” said Group CEO Arthur Oginga. Old Mutual’s asset management division was a key driver of growth. It recorded a profit before tax…

Kenyan internet service provider WaveX has joined the London Internet Exchange (LINX) as an official reseller partner for both LINX Nairobi and LINX Mombasa. This makes it the first company to resell services across the two internet exchange points in Kenya. The partnership enables WaveX to provide other networks with access to LINX’s peering infrastructure without requiring them to have their own physical presence at the exchanges. This means regional internet service providers, cloud platforms and digital service providers can connect to LINX through WaveX to exchange internet traffic more efficiently. Internet exchange points (IXPs) allow networks to connect directly…

Visa has announced the signing of a new agreement with Bank of Abyssinia in Ethiopia. Bank of Abyssinia plans to leverage this partnership and invest in premium financial products and also strengthen its digital banking services. The bank will also expand payment acceptance and improve cross-border transaction capabilities. “Ethiopia is an important and rapidly evolving market, and Visa remains committed to working closely with leading financial institutions to support the growth of the digital payments ecosystem,” said Yared Endale, Cluster Head for Eastern Africa at Visa. He added that the partnership aims to enable safer, faster and more convenient payment…

NTT DATA plans to deploy enterprise AI factories powered by NVIDIA. The aim of this is to help organizations move faster from AI experimentation to production-scale deployments. The company says the enterprise AI factories provide a full-stack operating model for enterprise AI, integrating data, infrastructure, workflows and governance into a unified system. The goal is to give businesses a repeatable and production-ready environment for building, deploying and managing artificial intelligence applications. According to NTT DATA, the AI factories are designed as adaptive ecosystems capable of scaling AI across the full lifecycle, from model training to inference and operational deployment. The…

Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) has announced it has officially started distributing electricity within Konza Technopolis. This is done through its own smart power distribution network. The move allows the technopolis to internally manage electricity distribution across Phase One of the development, a shift expected to improve reliability and operational efficiency for businesses, research institutions, investors and residential projects located within the city. The capability is powered by Konza Smart Energy, an intelligent energy platform designed to support digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and industrial activity within the technology hub often referred to as Africa’s Silicon Savannah. Konza’s new energy distribution…

The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) have signed the Kigali Declaration on Fintech License Passporting. This is a new framework designed to make it easier for fintech companies and payment service providers to operate across both markets. The agreement was signed by Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda and Gerald Nyaoma, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, on March 11 on the sidelines of the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026. The declaration seeks to reduce regulatory barriers for fintech companies expanding between the two countries by introducing a license…

Tich App has launched a mobile-first marketplace that connects urban youth with short-term, gig and informal work opportunities. The platform allows users to find, apply for and manage on-demand jobs. It does this while introducing transparency, basic worker protections, referrals and guidance on simple contract terms. Tich aim to increase earnings, diversify skills and expand the professional networks for youths in Kenya. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Tich will pilot its services in Nairobi and Mombasa over the next 30–60 days, supported by FasterCapital’s EquityPilot program, which provides execution coaching,…

Safaricom says its mobile money platform M‑PESA has reached 40 million customers in Kenya.  M-PESA has evolved over the years from a simple person-to-person money transfer tool into a broader digital financial platform used daily by millions of Kenyans. Today the service supports a wide range of financial activities including savings, credit, investments, and merchant payments. “Our goal is to give Kenyans, and Africa at large, digital financial tools to empower them to be more prosperous. Reaching 40 million monthly active customers in Kenya is a milestone we celebrate, as we recommit to enable every Kenyan to transact safely, grow…

KCB Group has reported KES 68.4 billion in profit after tax for the financial year ended 2025. The bank highlighted continued growth in digital banking and regional operations. Speaking during the bank’s FY2025 financial results announcement, Paul Russo, Group CEO, revealed that 99% of transactions by number are now conducted through non-branch channels, reflecting the growing role of mobile, agency and other digital banking platforms across Kenya and the wider region. The lender currently serves 34 million customers, including 23 million on digital channels, supported by a network of 1.3 million agents and merchants, 456 branches, and 1,249 ATMs. Digital…