Author: Kaluka wanjala

itel has announced the launch of the itel SUPER 26 Ultra in Kenya. The phone is available in Kenya for KES 20,499. The phone blends premium design, powerful performance and intelligent AI features at a price few competitors can match. The SUPER 26 Ultra is built around a 6.78-inch 3D Curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and an ultra-smooth 144Hz refresh rate. This delivers a viewing experience rarely seen in this price range. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, and the phone’s TitanShield Architecture gives it added strength. The phone has an IP65 rating for dust…

Safaricom Business hosted an exclusive breakfast session for senior IT and security executives. The session showcased its Managed Security Operations Centre (MSOC) and its role in strengthening enterprise resilience. Participants were taken through live threat simulations and demonstrations of MSOC’s analytics-driven monitoring tools, which provide real-time detection and response capabilities. “Enterprises can no longer treat security as an afterthought; it is now central to business continuity and reputation. Through our MSOC, we equip organisations with the tools and expertise needed to identify threats early and respond decisively,” said Frankline Okata, Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Safaricom. Kenya’s Rising Cyber…

Network International and Magnati have completed a strategic merger under the ownership of a Brookfield-led consortium. The merged entity will operate under the name Network International LLC. With an expanded suite of solutions, ranging from digital payments and data-driven insights to SME lending and advanced fraud prevention, the merged entity is well-placed to drive innovation, scale, and financial inclusion across the region. The company will continue to collaborate with governments to accelerate digital transformation and expand access to financial services throughout MEA. Hadi Badri, Chairman of the Board, Network International, said, “This merger creates a UAE homegrown fintech champion for…

Safaricom has unveiled 10 startups as finalists for the second cohort of its Spark Accelerator Program, a corporate innovation initiative launched in partnership with M-PESA Africa, Sumitomo Corporation, and implemented by iHUB. The startups are: If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The startups will join a three-month acceleration program beginning October 2025. The program is designed to fast-track growth by combining mentorship, technical support, and corporate market access. According to Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, the accelerator’s goal is to “nurture, grow and scale commercially viable tech start-ups that drive positive societal…

Africa’s startup and SME ecosystem continues to attract growing investor attention in 2025. There are some new funds targeting everything from early-stage tech to climate and private credit. For founders, this rise in capital represents fresh growth opportunities. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Below, we will highlight some of the most notable fund launches and closes announced between January and September 2025. The information provided below is based of data we have gathered from publicly available information. Acumen — KawiSafi Fund II ($90m, September 2025) Acumen is the first one…

Visa has announced the launch of a stablecoin prefunding pilot through its global money movement platform, Visa Direct. The initiative is designed to give businesses, banks and remittance providers a faster and more flexible way to fund cross-border payouts. Visa’s new pilot aims to disrupt the legacy systems that require costly pre-funding in fiat as they often lock up large sums of capital for days at a time. “Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long,” said Chris Newkirk, President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa. “Visa Direct’s new stablecoin integration lays the groundwork…

Kenya will require $47.26 million (about SKsh 6.12 billion) to set up 10,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country. According to a new policy document from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, the rollout will take place in three phases. It will start with 17 towns located along the Mombasa–Busia highway corridor. The first phase alone will cost $9.16 million (Ksh 1.18 billion). The second stage of the project will cost $13.9 million (Ksh 1.8 billion) and extend to 23 more towns and roads linked to the initial corridor. The final and most expensive phase will target county…

Tende Pay has announced a strategic partnership with PesaLink to transform how businesses in Kenya handle payments. The collaboration integrates PesaLink’s instant payment infrastructure directly into Tende Pay’s spend management platform. This is meant to give businesses the ability to send both single and bulk payments of up to KSh 999,999 instantly, 24/7, across all banks in Kenya. This is a major step toward solving long-standing challenges around speed, convenience, and affordability iin business transactions for SMEs in Kenya Key benefits for businesses on Tende Pay will include: PesaLink emphasized that the partnership represents a new era in enterprise payments,…

Verto has officially launched a new hub in Nairobi as part of its East African growth strategy. The hub, located at The Address on Muthangari Drive, will serve as Verto’s central point for operations in the region. The company says the move reflects its commitment to simplifying international trade for businesses in emerging markets, particularly those navigating costly and slow payment systems. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Verto’s global network spans more than 170 countries and 49 currencies.. Its platform enables businesses to send and receive money securely across borders…

NCBA Bank and CFAO Mobility Kenya’s leasing arm, Loxea, have announced a partnership to finance BYD electric vehicles, starting with the launch of the BYD Shark 6, Kenya’s first plug-in hybrid pickup. The Shark 6 is built on BYD’s DMO (Dual-Motor Off-road) platform. It combines the rugged durability of a pickup with next-generation hybrid efficiency. It features a 1.5L petrol engine paired with electric motors, delivering up to 650km of range and consumes as little as 2.0 litres per 100km when fully charged. The battery comes with an 8-year/200,000km warranty. Loxea’s Managing Director, Jennifer Kinyoe, called the launch “a statement…