Author: Kaluka wanjala

NALA has secured up to $50 million in credit financing from Liquidity. The financing is structured through Mars Growth Capital, a joint venture between Liquidity and MUFG Bank Ltd. It will begin with an initial $25 million facility, with the option to scale to at least $50 million. According to the company, the capital will provide working capital to support NALA’s product development, operational scaling and expansion into new payment corridors, as it builds what it describes as a next-generation neobank powered by stablecoin infrastructure. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here.…

Absa Bank Kenya’s Q1 2026 profit after tax rose to KSh 5.3 billion. The bank delivered a Return on Equity of 20.3%. Customer deposits rose by 8% to KSh 399.1 billion, while net loans and advances stood at KSh 303.8 billion. Total assets grew by 10% to KSh 571.3 billion, underlining the bank’s strong balance sheet position. Speaking on the results, Managing Director and CEO Abdi Mohamed noted that the quarter was shaped by broader economic challenges. “It has been a demanding period for our customers and the broader economy, but our focus has been on standing alongside those we…

Westcon-Comstor has today announced the launch of SASEvolution, a new programme designed to simplify and accelerate the adoption of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) across its partner ecosystem in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). SASEvolution brings together Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma SASE solution with Westcon-managed services into ready-to-sell, bundled offerings. Built around real-world customer use cases, the programme combines Secure Internet Access, Universal Zero Trust Network Access, Secure Enterprise Browser and full-stack SASE capabilities with design, deployment and support services. The result is a simplified, repeatable model that enables partners to go to market with Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE regardless…

Spiro has announced the acquisition of Coexlion and has also announced plans to establish its first African research and development (R&D) center in Kenya. The acquisition brings a team of 28 engineers from Coexlion, whose expertise in motorcycle engineering and industrial design is expected to strengthen Spiro’s product development capabilities. The new R&D center will focus on designing and building electric motorcycles tailored to African operating conditions, including road infrastructure, climate and rider economics. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Spirois is clearly moving beyond deployment and infrastructure into deeper control…

Vodacom’s M-Pesa Tanzania has partnered with PayPal to allow customers to easily transfer funds between their PayPal accounts and M-Pesa wallets. The service will be accessible directly through the M-Pesa Super App. The integration enables eligible M-Pesa users to deposit funds into their PayPal wallets and withdraw money back into M-Pesa securely and conveniently. This is expected to significantly simplify cross-border transactions for freelancers, developers, content creators, entrepreneurs and gig economy workers who rely on international payments. Speaking on the partnership, Tulisindo Mlupilo, Acting M-Pesa Director, said the collaboration underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and financial inclusion. “Digital connectivity…

As African businesses accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, a new challenge is emerging, protecting the data that powers these systems. According to executives from Veeam, many organisations are expanding faster than their ability to properly secure and recover their data. Speaking to TechArena at AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya, Brendan Widlake, Regional Director for English Africa and Lisa Strydom, Senior Channel and Alliances Manager for Africa, said the conversation around data is rapidly shifting but key gaps still remain. One of the biggest shifts organisations are facing is the sheer spread of data. “Your data…

South African-based Mia Healthcare Technologies has raised R15 million ($910,000) to expand the reach of affordable dental and orthodontic care in Southern Africa. The investment comes from the Vumela Fund, which is managed by Edge Growth in partnership with First National Bank (FNB). If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. Mia Healthcare operates mobile clinics in schools, workplaces and underserved communities. They bring professional dental care closer to patients who might otherwise go without treatment. At the same time, the company is positioning itself as a local challenger in the orthodontics market…

Kenya is set to introduce minimum fare regulations for ride-hailing services. William Ruto has directed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to engage ride-hailing companies and implement a pricing framework that will establish a minimum taxi fare across platforms such as Uber and Bolt according to the Daily Nation.  The proposed minimum fare framework comes amid growing concerns over the sustainability of Kenya’s ride-hailing ecosystem. Over the past few years, aggressive price competition between platforms has driven down ride costs for consumers. Drivers have complained about shrinking incomes accelerated by high fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, insurance expenses and…

Cassava Technologies has been named the 2026 Pan-African Champion at the Africa CEO Forum Awards. The award was presented during the Africa CEO Forum Gala Dinner held in Kigali on May 14, bringing together top business leaders, policymakers, and investors from across Africa. Cassava Technologies’ President and Group CEO, Hardy Pemhiwa, accepted the award and also participated as a panellist in discussions focused on Africa’s digital future. The conversations highlighted the important role of infrastructure in accelerating digital transformation and enabling inclusive economic growth. The recognition is testament to Cassava’s continued investments towards building Africa’s digital backbone. These investments have…

Mitsumi Distribution has announced a $2 million investment in an artificial intelligence (AI) cloud platform. The company says the aim is to empower young Kenyan innovators with access to critical digital infrastructure. The initiative was unveiled during the AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya Summit in Nairobi.  According to Mitesh Shah, Co-founder and Managing Director of Mitsumi, the investment goes beyond commercial interests and is largely driven by corporate social responsibility. “The AI cloud we are putting up is around $2 million. This is mostly CSR from Mitsumi’s side so that most of our educated youths can utilize it for…