Author: Kaluka wanjala

Caribou Digital in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation has released a new report titled; The Role of AI Innovation Clusters in Fostering Youth Employment in Africa: Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications.  The report offers insights on what role Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation can play in addressing Africa’s persistent youth unemployment challenges and shaping a more prosperous future for the continent’s workforce. The report makes a compelling call for a unified and strategic approach from governments, academia, Big Tech, and investors to cultivate and transform Africa’s AI ecosystem. In 2020, 60% of Africa’s population was under 25 and its tech-savvy youth population is set to…

The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Eastern Africa Academy has celebrated the graduation of its 2024 cohort, comprising 20 talented young filmmakers from across the East African region. This year’s students completed a 12-month programme of workshops, lectures, practical film productions and masterclasses, where they gained skills in everything from screenwriting and editing to sound design, producing, and directing. Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Academy Director Victoria Goro highlighted the transformative journey of the students saying: “We are proud of every single one of our graduates as they follow in the footsteps of more than 100 MTF East Africa alumni. Every…

Airtel Money has announced the extension of the ‘Rudishiwa transaction fee’ offer to Paybill transactions. Airtel Money first introduced the Rudishiwa campaign in December 2023 where customers received back the transaction fees incurred on withdrawals. With the latest announcement, customers will receive back the transaction fee as airtime. According to Airtel Money, this offer will allow customers to enjoy the convenience of mobile payments while still receiving the benefits of airtime. This is a good deal if you think about it, pay for goods and services and automatically get airtime. There is no competing offer from the likes of M-Pesa…

Safaricom has revealed that one of its latest products, M-Pesa Ratiba, has had over 1 million opt-ins in just a month. M-Pesa Ratiba allows M-Pesa registered customers to set up recurring payments from their M-Pesa accounts to other M-Pesa accounts or to a Lipa na M-Pesa shortcode. Think of this like a standing order that you can set up on your bank account for recurring monthly payments. With Ratiba, you can automate regular payments including rent, utility bills and school fees through Lipa na M-Pesa payments to M-Pesa Buy Goods, Business tills, and Paybills. Having over 1 million opt-ins in…

M-Pesa, Safaricom’s mobile money platform, has surpassed 34 million subscribers. The company announced this today revealing the milestone was achieved back in November. With 34 million subscribers, Safaricom is one of the leading mobile money solutions across the continent. in addition, M-Pesa has over 300,000 agents across the country. This agent network is what has helped Safaricom expand and maintain its market share. Safaricom has also revealed that M-Pesa supports over 1.5M micro, small, medium and large enterprises through its merchant payment options. Most recently Safaricom acquired an insurance intermediary license partnering with various insurance providers to offer comprehensive insurance…

Microsoft, through the company’s Africa Transformation Office (ATO), has unveiled an initiative that will accelerate advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and foster collaboration between startups and industry leaders. The initiative will also mark the launch of Microsoft’s strategic collaboration with NVIDIA, aimed at accelerating AI startup development in Africa. The announcement was made building on the success of the Microsoft African Startups AI Fest held earlier this year in South Africa and included participation from the NVIDIA Inception program as a platform for startups to engage with industry leaders, investors, and potential partners. Participants will discover cutting-edge AI solutions and…

Binance has announced a partnership with AltSchool Africa to provide full-tuition scholarships to 500 young Africans. Kicking off in January 2025 to 31 December, this collaboration is aimed at addressing the digital skills gap in Africa by offering access to specialised education in fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity, sales and content creation, empowering learners with skills that are essential in today’s rapidly evolving job market. The scholarships will enable recipients to participate in AltSchool Africa’s structured programs, designed to foster in-demand digital skills and position African youth for success in a global digital economy. As part of this initiative,…

Samsung has launched its first ever experience store in Meru today. The store, dubbed Generations, is located in Greenwood City Mall. This move by Samsung is aimed at ensuring technology penetration, and access to quality premium smartphones across the country. It is a strategic move that has followed the launch of nine other Samsung Experience Stores (SES) in the East African Region. Using this store, Samsung wants to ensure that all customers in Meru have the opportunity to explore and experience a variety of Samsung products first-hand; from mobile devices, including Samsung flagship Galaxy series, foldables, wearables, accessories and home…

Visa has concluded the Demo Day for the second cohort of the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program. This event was held in Cape Town, South Africa on December 2nd. At the event, 23 fintech startups presented their solutions to an audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, ecosystem enablers, and business partners. The second cohort’s Demo Day was a culmination of a 12-week intensive program that included training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The highlights of the event included startup pitches from three batches representing different regions of Africa—West Africa, North Africa, and East & South Africa. At the Demo Day, four…

OPPO Find X8 has officially launched in Kenya and is available across the country for Ksh 140,000. This is currently the most expensive phone from the company in the country and was launched globally on 21st November 2024. Kenya is one of the first international markets to unveil this phone. The Find X8 is launching at a very competitive segment dominated by Samsung and Apple. While OPPO has had some flagship phones, we rarely see them officially launch in Kenya. “With the Find X8, OPPO has broken through barriers that have held smartphones back for generations. Its exquisite, ultra-slim design,…