Author: Kaluka wanjala

Thunes has announced it will permanently discontinue its PayPal Mobile Money transfer service with M-Pesa on August 16, 2025. This platform has been popular among Kenyans, as it enables easy money transfers between PayPal and M-Pesa. This platform allows both withdrawals from PayPal and deposits as well and all this is facilitated within minutes. This message appears on the paypal-mobilemoney.com website, which currently facilitates the integration. Below is a screenshot of the notice seen on the PayPal Mobile Money’s website.  What is Changing? FeatureOld SetupNew Setup (Post August 2025)Access PointPayPal Mobile Money websiteM-PESA mobile app onlyService PartnerThunes (TransferTo)Safaricom & PayPal…

Truecaller has announced the appointment of Saraswati Agarwal as the Regional Sales Head for Ad Solutions for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.  Saraswati will lead Truecaller’s Ad Solutions efforts in the MEA region. At this role, she will help brands craft smarter, high-impact digital campaigns that engage users at critical moments within the Truecaller app. “Truecaller has become a household name across several key African markets,” said Hemant Arora, VP, Global Ad Sales at Truecaller. “With over 34 strategic partners in the region, we’ve built a strong foundation. Saraswati’s leadership will be key to expanding our reach and…

LOOP has announced the launch of a new 30-day digital loan product. This product is designed to deliver fast, flexible, and transparent access to credit for Kenyans. It adds to LOOP’s growing suite of products, such as LOOP Fle,x which we covered last year.  The LOOP Quick 30-Day Loan is now available to all eligible customers with a credit limit and no outstanding overdue balances. It allows users to borrow amounts between KES 2,000 and KES 100,000. The amount is instantly disbursed to their LOOP wallet via the LOOP App. Key Features of LOOP Quick Loan Some of the key…

Acer has announced it is choosing purpose over product as it repositions its strategy to support Kenya’s push for universal digital literacy. At a recent partner forum in Nairobi, Grigory Nizovsky, Acer’s Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), announced the company’s move from traditional device sales to deep public sector collaboration. This shift will have education at the core. “Wherever digitization is happening, especially in education, we want to be part of the solution,” Nizovsky said. “We’re ready to bring integrated, scalable solutions that go beyond hardware.” This marks a significant move for Acer, aligning itself with…

Tecno has launched the Spark 40 Series in Kenya. This series is available in Kenya starting from Ksh 12,500 and you can get it through most online retailers across the country. The series includes four devices, Spark 40 Pro+, Spark 40 Pro, Spark 40, and Spark 40C. All these phones are engineered with a blend of performance, design, and AI-driven features at budget-friendly prices. Performance Meets Endurance Leading the pack is the Spark 40 Pro+, which debuts the MediaTek Helio G200 chipset, the world’s first 6nm 4G platform. The Spark 40 Pro is powered by a G100 Ultimate processor which…

Safaricom has officially crossed the 50 million customer mark in Kenya. This is more than double the 24 million subscribers Airtel recently reported. This is a major milestone the telco has crossed just months before its 25th anniversary in October 2025. This milestone cements Safaricom’s status as Kenya’s most influential technology and telecommunications company. “We are honoured by the trust that over 50 million Kenyans have placed in us,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC. “As we approach our silver jubilee, we recommit ourselves to always being a force for good and creating what’s next for our customers.” Safaricom’s…

NTT DATA has appointed Vinesh Maharaj as the Director of Smart Manufacturing and Industry for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This is a strategic appointment by the company to expand its footprint in Africa’s evolving digital economy. “Africa is entering a new industrial era, and we want to be part of that story,” said Maurizio De Matteis, CEO of NTT DATA Middle East and Africa. “By investing in sector-specific leadership, we’re making sure we understand the local context while bringing in global best practices.” Deep Experience in AI and Industrial Tech Maharaj brings more than 30 years of experience…

Luno has become the first operational platform in Nigeria to offer crypto staking. Users can now earn up to 18% annually by simply holding selected cryptocurrencies in the Luno app. They can earn this without actively trading. The staking feature initially supports Cosmos (ATOM), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), and NEAR Protocol (NEAR). All these are proof-of-stake tokens. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. What sets this apart is the flexibility it offers users as they can stake any amount. They can also withdraw at any time, and are not…

Absa and Visa have partnered to accelerate access to secure and inclusive digital payment infrastructure in Africa. Through this partnership, both institutions will be able to scale solutions for small businesses, digital innovation, and financial inclusion. Absa has previously introduced a number of Visa-powered products in the continent, including Visa Direct (for card-to-card payments) and metal premium cards under Visa Signature and Infinite. In markets like Mauritius, the launch of Absa Pay issuer wallets marked the beginning of contactless and mobile-first banking experiences. “We’re investing in local-first solutions that reflect the realities of African consumers and entrepreneurs,” said Saviour Chibiya,…

A viral tweet recently brought attention to a reality for millions of Kenyans. Withdrawing just Ksh 200 from M-Pesa, the country’s dominant mobile money platform, can attract a charge of Ksh 29. That’s roughly 14.5% of the transaction amount and that’s before factoring in the fees the sender may have paid. In a country where mobile money is practically a utility, this raises several questions: Are the transaction fees justifiable? Who is most affected? And is the mobile money sector in Kenya truly competitive? What the Numbers Say According to Safaricom’s latest tariff guide for 2025, withdrawing Ksh 200 at…