Author: Kaluka wanjala

Visa has today announced the appointment of Anne Kinuthia Otieno as its new Vice President and Head of East Africa, effective August 4, 2026. Anne will oversee Visa’s operations across seven East African markets, leading efforts to expand digital payments, deepen relationships with financial institutions and partners, and accelerate financial inclusion across the region. The appointment comes shortly after Anne stepped down from her role as Managing Director of Airtel Money Kenya, where she oversaw a period of growth and market expansion for the mobile money business. Her career spans more than two decades across banking, telecommunications and digital financial…

KCB has secured a US$100 million (KShs. 12.9 billion) financing facility from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to expand access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). 30% of the funds will be allocated for eligible green investments to support businesses to adopt climate-smart technologies and environmentally sustainable practices. 35% of the funds will be allocated to women and youth-led enterprises. The partnership also marks EBRD’s first investment in Kenya’s financial sector. Speaking during the signing ceremony, EBRD Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Heike Harmgart, said the facility will help channel much-needed financing to…

California-based electric vehicle startup Bingo has officially entered the Kenyan market with the launch of its E2 electric vehicle. The company says it is targeting ride-hailing and last-mile delivery operators with this electric vehicle.  The company is also introducing a broader electric mobility ecosystem that includes battery-swapping technology and DC fast charging infrastructure. If you have a startup you want featured on TechArena, let us know through this contact form here. The Bingo E2 features a dual-battery system consisting of one fixed battery and four swappable battery packs, enabling a claimed driving range of up to 440 kilometers on a full charge. The…

Onafriq has partnered with stablecoin infrastructure provider Privy to strengthen its digital asset infrastructure and accelerate the development of stablecoin-enabled payment services for businesses across its network. Onafriq will build and run embedded digital asset solutions for partners and, where regulation permits, for institutional clients. The first phase will focus on cross-chain stablecoin transfers, treasury management and settlement workflows. This will lead to faster cross-border payments and increased liquidity across African markets. Onafriq aims to simplify digital asset adoption while enabling banks, fintechs and mobile money operators to benefit from faster and more efficient payment services. Luke Kyohere, Group Chief…

Tether has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) to explore blockchain-powered financial market innovation, digital asset education and the tokenization of securities in Kenya. A key focus of this partnership will be on investor education through training sessions, workshops and awareness programmes for stockbrokers, retail investors and other market participants to improve their understanding of digital assets and their role in capital markets. The two organizations will also assess the use of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to support tokenized securities, instant settlement, and fractional ownership of investments. The initiative will also explore the use…

Google has opened applications for the Google Africa Applied AI Lab, a new initiative designed to help African founders and researchers turn AI ideas into commercially viable products while accelerating the continent’s AI innovation ecosystem. Based at the Accra AI Community Centre (AICC) in Ghana, the lab will serve entrepreneurs from across Africa, offering technical collaboration with Google experts, early access to Google DeepMind’s latest AI models and mentorship from leading venture capital firms. Google’s AI for Africa program will focus on five key areas where the company sees AI having a significant impact – the future of work, knowledge,…

Dimension Data has completed the first tranche of its N20 billion corporate bond programme by issuing N4.05 billion (approx. US$2.9 million) in debt. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dimension Data Managing Director Olugbenga Olabiyi said the investment underscores the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy through critical infrastructure. “Beyond delivering technology solutions, we work every day to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy. This milestone reflects the confidence of our partners and investors in our vision, and we look forward to translating these investments into infrastructure that supports businesses, innovation and national digital transformation,” he said. The company said the proceeds…

Yellow Card CEO and Co-Founder Chris Maurice Named to Stablecoins Most Influential 2026 List. This is Stablecon’s annual list of individuals shaping the global stablecoin ecosystem. The list recognizes leaders across six regions and multiple categories, including stablecoin issuers, builders, policymakers, and executives. Honorees are selected using a five-factor framework that assesses influence, impact, innovation, momentum, and peer recognition. Maurice joins a 2026 cohort that includes Coinbase President and COO Emilie Choi, Stripe Co-founder and CEO Patrick Collison, Paxos CEO and Co-Founder Charles Cascarilla and BlackRock Chairman and CEO Larry Fink. “Many years ago, we took a bet on Stablecoins…

Airtel Africa’s revenue rose 31.0% to $1.85 billion for the financial year ended June 30, 2026. This was driven by continued growth in mobile services, data usage, and Airtel Money across its markets. The telecom operator said revenue growth was supported by double-digit constant currency growth across all business segments, with mobile services revenue rising 19.1% and mobile money revenue increasing 25.8%. In East Africa, revenue grew 14.4% in constant currency and 21.9% in reported currency to $607 million. The region’s performance was supported by a 9.3% increase in its customer base and 5.3% growth in average revenue per user…

Kenyan fintech startup WayaWaya has appointed former Chase Bank Kenya executive Raj Singh as a non-executive director and board adviser. He joins at a time when WayaWaya is seeking to deepen its partnerships with banks and merchants and scale its AI-powered financial services platform across Africa and beyond. “Raj joins us at an important point in WayaWaya’s growth journey. His banking, fintech and international experience will be invaluable as we move from innovation to scale,” said WayaWaya founder and CEO Teddy Ogallo. He added that Singh will play a key role in expanding the company’s network of banking partners, strengthening…