Author: Kaluka wanjala

A new study by Visa and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has revealed how passengers pay for their flights. The report also showed how airlines manage those payments behind the scenes. The report is part of the Airline Payment Maturity Index survey. It looks at how African airlines can improve their financial performance by upgrading payment systems, reducing fraud and improving passenger experience. Visa and AFRAA surveyed African carriers across the continent (including but not limited to AFRAA members) to assess how mature and efficient their payment systems are. The survey discovered that most airlines comply with key industry standards,…

Zoho has upgraded its customer experience (CX) platform by rolling out new AI features, driven by its proprietary AI engine, Zia. The goal is to simplify CRM, make it smarter, and usable by every department in an organisation and not just sales. “Many people across departments need access to customer information, yet CRMs have traditionally been limited to sales,” explains Veerakumar Natarajan, Country Head, Zoho Kenya. “With CRM for Everyone, we’re democratising access and simplifying system use through Zia’s capabilities.” The new updates make CRM more intuitive and accessible than ever before. Zia, Zoho’s in-house AI, now enables users to…

Safaricom has officially launched a new campaign called Maisha Poa Ni Digital. If you’re still using a feature phone or know someone who is, this is something worth paying attention to. The campaign is all about accelerating digital inclusion in Kenya by helping more people, especially those in rural and peri-urban areas, transition from 2G phones to affordable 4G+ smartphones. What exactly is this campaign about, who is it targeting and how can you benefit? Here is everything you need to know. What Is Maisha Poa Ni Digital? Launched in May 2025, the Maisha Poa Ni Digital campaign is Safaricom’s…

SEACOM, through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, is working on practical steps to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace. It is currently working with universities across multiple counties in Kenya and offers students short-term engagements with long-term potential. “We’re looking to establish more formal, lasting partnerships with institutions,” said a SEACOM spokesperson. “It’s about consistency, deeper impact, and creating shared value for students and the tech ecosystem.” One of the programme’s most unique aspects is its academic tours. These are not just campus visits. Students get a closer look at SEACOM’s undersea cable infrastructure. These tours…

Opera’s stablecoin wallet MiniPay, once only accessible via the Opera Mini browser, is now a standalone application available globally on iOS and Android. Built on Celo’s Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain, MiniPay is designed to make sending and spending stablecoins as easy as sending a text message. MiniPay was launched back in 2023 and has activated over 7 million wallets. Its Android standalone version released just last October has already surpassed 1 million downloads. The app supports all popular stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and cUSD. It allows users to store value and make low-fee, near-instant transfers globally. “MiniPay becoming a standalone app…

A recent report by Ookla, the company behind the Speedtest platform, shared data on Starlink’s download and upload speeds, latency, and comparative performance across multiple African countries. Starlink has been in a few African countries for a couple of years but its popularity is growing.  We spoke with Karim Yaici, Industry Analyst at Ookla, to learn more about the data, the methodology, and what Starlink’s rollout might mean for internet access across the continent. Speed and Latency Standouts According to the report, Starlink delivered median download speeds above 60 Mbps in most African countries it operates in, notably Nigeria, Mozambique,…

Every year, Google’s I/O developer conference is a sneak peek into the future of Android, and 2025 is no different. With Android powering over 3 billion active devices globally, it’s more than just an operating system; it’s how many of us connect, work, travel, and express ourselves. From Nairobi to Lagos, and Cape Town to Cairo, Android’s latest updates promise a more personal, intelligent, and secure experience—tailored to the needs of everyday users across Africa. Here’s what’s coming and why it matters: 1. Phones and Watches That Match Your Personality Android 16 and Wear OS 6 are turning your device…

Egyptian proptech startup Nawy has just raised a whopping $52 million in Series A funding, marking a bold step in its mission to reshape how real estate works across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In addition to that, the company has also secured $23 million in debt financing from top Egyptian banks—cash that will go directly into growing its mortgage offering. The investment round was led by Partech, with support from several heavyweight investors including e& Capital, VentureSouq, Shorooq Partners, and Development Partners International through the Nclude Fund. Founded in 2019, Nawy began as a simple property listings…

Cross Switch has partnered with Pesawise to officially enter the Kenyan market. The partnership merges Cross Switch’s global payment infrastructure with Pesawise’s deep local market expertise. This has resulted in a seamless, secure, and scalable payment solution. The solution is built to meet the different needs of Kenyan businesses from hospitality and e-commerce to nonprofits and even delivery services. “We’re thrilled to take this next step in our journey with Cross Switch as our technology partner,” said Jamal Khan, CEO of Pesawise. “Their robust tech stack and global experience will enable us to provide truly tailored solutions for Kenya’s digital-first…

M-KOPA has been selected as Financial Times’ “Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies”. This is the fourth consecutive appearance for M-KOPA on the prestigious annual ranking. M-KOPA reported a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42% between 2020 and 2023. In 2024, the company saw over 65% year-over-year revenue growth. The company is on track to surpass $500 million in annual revenue in 2025. All this, while maintaining profitability. “We are thrilled to make the FT Fastest Growing Companies in Africa list for the 4th year in a row,” said Jesse Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of M-KOPA. “Our growth continues to accelerate,…