Author: Kaluka wanjala

Kenya’s financial sector, long admired for its role in mobile money and digital banking revolution, now finds itself on the brink of another transformation powered by artificial intelligence (AI). According to new research presented at an event hosted at iXAfrica Data Centres in Nairobi, over 80% of senior banking executives believe generative AI will be transformative for the sector. Yet fewer than a quarter of banks say they are prepared for the transition. The gap between optimism and readiness clearly shows there is an opportunity and a threat for incumbents as digital-first competitors enter the market. TechArena attended the event…

Last week, Safaricom held its first-ever Gaming Conference at the Michael Joseph Centre, themed “Level Up Africa: Unlocking Gaming Potential in Africa.” The event wasn’t your usual stiff industry summit. Sure, there were serious talks on policy, investment, and the future of eSports, but there was also cosplay, movie screenings, music performances, and merch stalls. “Gaming is more than just play, it is talent, creativity, and opportunity,” said Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, Safaricom’s Chief Consumer Business Officer. “At Safaricom, we believe in powering the youth and building platforms where skills can turn into careers, innovations, and thriving communities.” Africa’s gaming industry is…

Samsung has today announced that its 2025 OLED TV (S95F model) has been officially certified as a Real Black display by the Verband der Elektrotechnik (VDE), a leading electrical engineering certification institute in Germany. By meeting the required standards to be genuinely considered Real Black, Samsung has proven that its OLED technology delivers a true black viewing experience.  The certification validates the OLED display’s crisp, reflection-free images with near-perfect blacks measured below 0.005 nits in dark environments, as well as black accuracy in sunlit rooms and even under direct sunlight. The result is crystal-clear visuals with rich, deep blacks in their…

Verto has unveiled the Atlas Suite, a next-generation embedded finance product designed to streamline cross-border payments for financial institutions, marketplaces, and digital platforms. The Atlas Suite provides a single API integration that allows businesses to embed banking, foreign exchange (FX), and payment services into their operations. According to Verto, the solution is built for scalability and compliance. Cross-border trade in Africa remains hampered by fragmented financial systems, regulatory hurdles, limited access to banking infrastructure, and high FX volatility. These increase costs and slow down trade and digital commerce across the continent. Atlas enables last-mile payouts through both bank transfers and…

The Galaxy A-series is one of Samsung’s most popular smartphone lines in Kenya. It offers decent midrange devices that can compete with what is offered by the likes of Tecno, Infinix, OPPO, Xiaomi, etc. I have been using the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G, and one question I have asked myself is whether it is worth getting if you already have the Galaxy A24 or A25?  Design and Display Both the Galaxy A24 & A25 feature AMOLED displays, but only the A25 introduced a higher refresh rate of 120Hz. The Galaxy A26 5G: Keeps the 120Hz Super AMOLED screen, with slimmer…

A few weeks ago, while attending a friend’s wedding in Nairobi, I met Mr. Otieno, a soft-spoken father of two with a gentle sense of humour. As we got talking, he painted a picture of life at home that felt familiar. “By 7 p.m.,” he said, “our house is buzzing. One child is online with her tutor, the other is watching cartoons YouTube. At the same time, my wife is preparing a presentation for work. I am the relaxed one, usually catching up on football highlights. Without Safaricom Home Fibre, none of this would run smoothly.” His story stuck with…

PesaLink, NALA and Equity Bank have partnered to make it easier for Kenyans abroad to send money back home. This partnership will help deliver funds instantly to mobile wallets and bank accounts across the country.  Last year, Kenyans in the diaspora sent home $4.94 billion. This makes remittances one of the top sources of foreign exchange for the country. Even with that, sending money across borders is often expensive and slow, with fees and delays eating into the amount families actually receive. This partnership will combine PesaLink’s instant payment infrastructure that supports transfers of up to Ksh 999,999 across 80+…

Absa Bank has unveiled a three-month promotion dubbed “Play Your Cards Right,” which rewards everyday debit and credit card usage with some substantial prizes. Whether you’re swiping your card at the supermarket or checking out online, every transaction counts as an automatic entry. Absa’s Head of Cards Payments, Linda Kimani, framed the move as part of the bank’s broader digital payments strategy. “We built this campaign on the foundation that Absa Bank continues to innovate around our customers’ needs and lifestyles and that we remain a Bank that is customer-first, digitally led and attuned to the evolving needs of every…

Vertiv has announced the new Vertiv PowerIT rack power distribution units (PDU), an extension of the Vertiv PowerIT product line. These models are designed to address the rising power needs of data-intensive workloads, including AI and high-performance computing (HPC). They provide advanced power management, flexible configurations, and enhanced internal components for greater reliability, enabling data centres to seamlessly scale power in response to growing IT demands. Basic, monitored and switched models are available now in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).With racks increasingly supporting power densities above 25 kW, data centre operators require robust high-capacity power distribution solutions capable of balancing loads and managing…

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi 15C in Kenya today. The device is designed for users who want more power, a larger screen, and additional features without paying premium prices. The Redmi 15C comes in with a 6000mAh battery that promises up to 22 hours of video playback. Even with such a massive battery, the phone manages to stay slim at just 8.2mm thick. Charging is equally impressive thanks to 33W turbo charging, which takes the phone to 50% in just over 30 minutes. Xiaomi has packed a 6.9-inch HD+ display with a smooth 120Hz AdaptiveSync refresh rate. This makes scrolling…