Author: Kaluka wanjala

Absa Bank Kenya has reported a profit after tax of KSh 10.5 billion for the six months ended 30 June 2026. This represents a return on equity of 21.7%. The lender said its performance was driven by continued execution of its customer-focused growth strategy, alongside investments aimed at strengthening the long-term resilience of the business. Customer assets grew by 8% to KSh 329.9 billion as the bank expanded lending to key sectors of the economy, while customer deposits increased to KSh 380.7 billion, reflecting growing confidence among customers and wider access to financial services. Total assets also rose to KSh…

Terra Industries, a defense technology company developing autonomous security systems for critical infrastructure across the Global South, has raised an additional $18 million, bringing its total seed funding to $52 million. The latest round included participation from existing investors, including 8VC, Silent Ventures, Nova Global, Belief Capital and SV Angel, alongside new investor Norleo Space Investments and angel investor Grant Gordon. The company develops and manufactures autonomous defense systems designed to help governments and infrastructure operators protect critical assets across land, air and maritime environments. Terra says its technology is already being used to secure power plants, mines and other…

Sanlam Allianz has reported a net profit of KSh124.6 million for the first half of 2026. The company’s half year financial results showed that insurance revenue had risen to KSh2.2 billion. The company’s Gross Written Premiums (GWP) increased by 32% compared to the first half of 2025. Speaking while confirming the results, Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nyamemba Patrick Tumbo said the company had maintained its focus on business development while implementing measures to improve operational efficiency. “The business has seen a significant growth of 32% in Gross Written Premiums compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the business…

Airtel Africa and Starlink have officially launched Africa’s first commercial satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With the new service, Airtel subscribers with compatible smartphones can access connectivity on Starlink’s satellite network without any additional equipment or specialised devices. Initially, the service will support SMS and light-data applications such as WhatsApp messaging. Customers will need a compatible LTE Android smartphone, an active Airtel DRC data bundle or data roaming enabled to access the service. Support for Apple devices is expected to be introduced later. “The first-ever commercial launch of Starlink Mobile in Africa is a significant…

In July 2026 there was an average of 3,237 cyber attacks per week on African organizations. This is significantly higher than the global average of 2,336, according to the latest threat intelligence report from Check Point Research. The report found that cyber attacks increased by 3% compared to June and 16% year over year. Within Africa, Angola recorded the highest number of weekly attacks per organisation at 5,714, followed by Nigeria (4,975), Kenya (2,915) and South Africa (2,195). Financial Services, Government and Energy and Utilities were the three most targeted sectors across the continent. The report also identified email and…

Konza Technopolis Development Authority CEO John Paul Okwiri recently hosted an AWS delegation led by Robin Njiru, Regional Lead for Public Sector, as the two organisations begin a new chapter of strategic collaboration. Konza says the proposed partnership will focus on strengthening Kenya’s cloud, innovation and technology ecosystem through a number of initiatives. These include the potential establishment of an AWS Outpost and a Startup and Technical Centre of Excellence at Konza Technopolis. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The proposed AWS Outpost would support the adoption of hybrid cloud solutions…

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a US$25 million equity investment in Jumia. According to the IFC, the investment will support Jumia’s next phase of growth across its core African markets by strengthening its integrated marketplace and logistics network while helping businesses improve productivity, increase sales and enhance price transparency. “The support of the World Bank Group is a milestone for Jumia and for African e-commerce more broadly,” said Francis Dufay, CEO of Jumia. “It validates both the discipline we have brought to our business in recent years and the tangible impact our platform has on small businesses, jobs,…

Nutanix has launched a new Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for its Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP), enabling enterprises to use AI tools to automate cloud operations while maintaining existing security and access controls. The open-source MCP server implements the Model Context Protocol and connects AI agents and developer tools to NCP through the Nutanix Prism v4 API. The launch is aimed at helping IT teams manage increasingly complex hybrid and multicloud environments using AI. Tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude Code and Cursor can translate natural-language requests into infrastructure actions through the MCP server. Nutanix said the approach provides a…

Vertiv is planning to expand its manufacturing and testing operations in Ireland, with a proposed extension of its Letterkenny facility expected to create up to 300 new jobs. The company plans to apply to Donegal County Council for an additional 7,000 square metres of space at its Letterkenny site as it responds to growing global demand for infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence (AI), colocation and hyperscale data centres. The expansion builds on Vertiv’s existing operations across Ireland and the North West, including facilities in Letterkenny, Burnfoot and Campsie in Derry, as well as its Central Procurement Office in Limerick and sales…

Mastercard has appointed Yasemin Bedir as President of its Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, effective September 1, 2026. Based in the UAE, Bedir will oversee Mastercard’s operations across the 81-country EEMEA region, including its strategy and partnerships with financial institutions, fintechs, businesses, governments and retailers. She succeeds Dimitrios Dosis, who recently took on the role of Chief Commercial Payments Officer, where he will lead Mastercard’s Commercial & New Payment Flows business. Bedir brings nearly two decades of experience at Mastercard, having joined the company in 2007. Most recently, she served as Division President for Eastern Europe, a…