Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has recently granted an operational license to the American financial behemoth JP Morgan Chase Bank, which boasts a staggering asset base exceeding $4.1 trillion. This significant development precedes the anticipated visit of the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, to the country. In an official communiqué,…

Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, has announced an initiative to rejuvenate the Luigi Broglio Space Centre, an Italian-operated launch site situated near Malindi, Kenya. This revival is part of a collaborative effort between Italy and Kenya, aligning with the objectives of the Mattei Plan—an Italian…

Safaricom has broadened the reach of its M-PESA Global money transfer service by introducing it to Ethiopia, enabling customers of M-PESA Kenya to execute mobile money transfers to their counterparts in M-PESA Ethiopia through the M-PESA International Remittance feature. This strategic move is designed to boost the adoption and usage…

M-KOPA Holding, an innovative Kenyan startup known for providing financing solutions for smartphones and solar systems, has announced the appointment of Rajeev Suri, the former CEO of Nokia, as its new chairman of the board. Suri is set to take over the role on December 1, 2024, succeeding Elizabeth Littlefield.…

One year since its debut in Kenya, Starlink has ascended to become the nation’s tenth-largest internet service provider. According to the latest figures from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the company has successfully acquired over 8,000 subscribers. The CA reported that as of June 30, 2024, Starlink Internet Services…

Lendsqr, a pioneering startup that equips companies with the necessary software to launch a lending operation, has announced an innovative service for its clientele. Starting now, Lendsqr will extend lines of credit to its clients, enabling them to issue more loans and thereby accelerate the growth of their businesses. Since…

The Nigerian federal government has introduced a new legislative proposal that mandates individuals working in sectors such as banking, insurance, stockbroking, and other financial services to present a Tax Identification Number (TIN) before they can open or operate a bank account. The proposed legislation, officially titled “A Bill for an…

South Africa has launched the Information, Communication Technologies and Media Regulators Forum, a new initiative designed to unify four key regulatory authorities within the ICT and media sectors. The forum includes the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the Information Regulator, the Domain Name Authority (ZADNA), and the Film…

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) has entered into a partnership with Adani Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of the Indian conglomerate Adani Group, to construct transmission lines and substations in Kenya. This collaboration represents Kenya’s inaugural power project to be financed through a public-private partnership model. Adani Energy Solutions…

Endeavor South Africa has recently achieved a significant milestone by completing the first close of its Harvest Fund III, amassing ZAR190 million (approximately US$11 million) towards its ambitious ZAR500 million (around US$28.8 million) goal. This fund is dedicated to fostering the expansion of tech-oriented businesses with high growth potential throughout…

Kenyan digital ticketing pioneer BuuPass has announced the expansion of its innovative Bus Management System (BMS) to include additional bus operators, aiming to bolster transparency and improve the efficiency of bus company operations. Co-founded by Sonia Kabra and Wyclife Omondi in 2016, BuuPass operates as a B2B2C mobility marketplace that…

Latitude59, the premier Estonian event for startups and technology, is actively seeking participation from early-stage startups throughout Africa to vie for a substantial prize pool consisting of non-equity financial support. The event celebrated its 12th iteration in the Estonian capital of Tallinn during the month of May, drawing an impressive…

Waribei, a burgeoning fintech enterprise based in Ivory Coast, has successfully secured a pre-seed investment totaling €750,000 (equivalent to approximately $820,462) with the strategic intent of expediting the development of its novel inventory financing platform tailored for petite traders across the African continent. This substantial financial injection comprises two major…

Kenya has taken a significant step forward in the realm of digital innovation by partnering with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Microsoft to create the Africa Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skills. This new institution is poised to become a hub for fostering public…

Huawei Egypt and Vodafone Egypt have recently announced the successful deployment of a groundbreaking 25 Gbps microwave transmission link, which is the first of its kind to be commercially utilized on a global scale. This advanced microwave link operates within the E-band spectrum, specifically at the 80 GHz frequency, and…

ByteDance’s popular social media platform TikTok is reportedly reducing its workforce, with the majority of layoffs occurring in Malaysia, as per information from Reuters. The company is shifting towards a greater reliance on artificial intelligence for the task of content moderation on its platform. While TikTok has not disclosed the…

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has entered into a one-year licensing agreement with Starlink, aiming to enhance high-speed Internet connectivity across Liberia, with a focus on reaching remote and underserved communities. This provisional license will enable the LTA to evaluate Starlink’s performance over the coming year, establishing quality benchmarks and…

South African technology firm Mustek has made a decisive move into the cybersecurity sector by purchasing a majority stake in CyberAntix, a company specializing in providing security operations centre-as-a-service (SOCaaS). Mustek has acquired a 70% share in CyberAntix from Sizwe Africa IT, a subsidiary indirectly owned by Ayo Technologies through…

Kenya’s Mdundo, a premier music service, has recently surpassed the milestone of 36 million monthly active users (MAU). In its quest to deepen its influence and extend its services, Mdundo is now strategically honing in on hyperlocal markets. This approach is aimed at amplifying the presence and impact of the…

Mali’s military-led government has recently reversed its decision to prohibit the import and sale of Starlink satellite Internet kits, a move that marks a significant change in the nation’s stance on Internet connectivity. The government has now permitted the use of Elon Musk’s satellite Internet service for a provisional period…