Techish Kenya

NTSA’s Automated Instant Fines Are Live: The Unanswered Questions Behind Kenya’s Traffic AI Kenya has launched automated NTSA traffic cameras issuing instant SMS fines, sparking serious concerns about fairness, accuracy, and hidden extortion.

Kenya has launched automated NTSA traffic cameras issuing instant SMS fines, sparking serious concerns about fairness, accuracy, and hidden extortion.

How Roam Explorer is Turning Africa’s EVs into Smart, Financed Fleets How Roam Explorer is using AI and real-time data to track African electric fleets, preventing breakdowns and unlocking EV financing

How Roam Explorer is using AI and real-time data to track African electric fleets, preventing breakdowns and unlocking EV financing

The Spec Sheet is Dead: How African Tech Media is Rewriting the Rules of Engagement Tech media in Africa is evolving beyond specs. Discover how contextualised , omnichannel storytelling builds compounding trust. Read the full story

Tech media in Africa is evolving beyond specs. Discover how contextualised , omnichannel storytelling builds compounding trust. Read the full story

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Wins ‘Best in Show’ at MWC 2026: Why the New Privacy Display is a Game Changer Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra won 'Best in Show' at MWC 2026 for its groundbreaking Privacy Display and proactive agentic AI.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra won 'Best in Show' at MWC 2026 for its groundbreaking Privacy Display and proactive agentic AI.

WhatsApp Plus is coming back For years, the name WhatsApp Plus carried a rebellious undertone. It was the forbidden fruit of Android messaging, a modded app that offered unparalleled freedom before Meta aggressively cracked down on it. Now, in a fascinating twist of irony, WhatsApp Plus is making a comeback. But this time, it’s entirely official, and it’s going to cost you. As we reported last month, WhatsApp has been developing an optional subscription plan aimed at power users. Thanks to new details uncovered by WABetaInfo, we now know the premium tier will officially be dubbed WhatsApp Plus, and it is currently under active development for both Android and iOS.

WhatsApp is developing an official WhatsApp Plus subscription with extra customization features like themes, icons, and more pinned chats, reviving the name once made famous by unofficial WhatsApp mods.

MTN successfully tests Starlink Direct to Cell in Africa, first on the continent The space race for smartphone connectivity is officially heating up across Africa. While 2026 was already poised to be the year African telcos ramped up satellite integrations to kill dead zones, a surprise frontrunner has emerged. Beating the highly anticipated rollout from Airtel Africa, MTN Zambia has announced it is the first African operator to successfully complete field testing of Starlink’s Direct to Cell service. According to a statement released by the carrier, the field test wasn't just a basic ping to orbit. MTN Zambia managed to pull off the transmission of the country's first-ever data session and fintech transaction using its own spectrum paired with Starlink’s satellite constellation.

The African satellite race is on as MTN Zambia makes history with the first successful Starlink Direct to Cell test, edging out Airtel Africa's planned rollout.

Court Strikes Down Kenya’s ‘Fake News’ Laws, But Upholds Police Spying Powers. Kenya's fake news law is dead, but state surveillance and ambiguous harassment clauses remain. Read our complete analysis here:

Kenya's fake news law is dead, but state surveillance and ambiguous harassment clauses remain. Read our complete analysis here:

Safaricom deploys COWs & 5G upgrades to keep networks running at the 2026 Safari Rally If you read my reviews last year, you might remember the absolute network blackout I experienced at the Mumias Sports Complex during the 2025 KSSSA national games in Kakamega County. At the time, I was daily-driving the Infinix NOTE 50S 5G, a phone I thoroughly enjoyed testing for its camera and 5G capabilities, but even the best hardware is rendered useless when the local cell towers buckle under the weight of a massive crowd. I couldn't share updates, upload photos, or even communicate reliably. It was a glaring reminder of how poorly our local telcos handle sudden surges in network traffic.

One of my biggest problems at the KSSSA 2025 games in Mumias was poor network connectivity. Safaricom now plans to tackle such congestion at the Safari Rally in Naivasha using COWs and optimized 5G.

M-PESA hits 40 million monthly active users in Kenya as it turns 19 Nineteen years ago today, Safaricom launched a simple person-to-person money transfer service that would permanently alter the global financial landscape. Today, March 6, 2026, the telco giant is celebrating M-PESA's 19th anniversary with a monumental milestone: reaching 40 million monthly active customers in Kenya alone. This achievement reflects Safaricom's relentless push to deepen financial wellness and inclusion across the region. Over nearly two decades, M-PESA has evolved from a basic remittance tool into an expansive financial partner embedded in the daily lives of Kenyans. The ecosystem now encompasses credit services like Fuliza and KCB M-PESA, business solutions such as Lipa na M-PESA, …

M-PESA marks 19 years with a major milestone, reaching 40 million customers in Kenya as Safaricom expands mobile payments, credit, and investment services.

Samsung overtakes TECNO in Q4 2025 MEA smartphone market share If you spend any time on tech social media in Kenya, you have likely noticed a recurring theme: the Samsung Galaxy A-series is everywhere. They are the undeniable heavyweights of the streets right now, and the numbers finally back up the chatter. According to the latest Q4 2025 Market Monitor report from Counterpoint Research, Samsung just pulled off a masterclass in regional dominance. The tech giant leapfrogged its rivals, skyrocketing from a 19% market share in Q4 2024 to a commanding 28% in Q4 2025. This massive 9% jump firmly dethrones TECNO, the continent's historical budget kingmaker.

If it feels like everyone is holding a Galaxy phone right now, you aren't wrong. Samsung just jumped to a 28% market share in Middle East and Africa, leaving TECNO, Infinix and Xiaomi in the dust. From 6-year OS updates to Lipa Mdogo Mdogo dominance, here is how they hacked the budget market.

Boeing and FASESA Bring ‘The First African Spacesuit’ Challenge to 2,000 Students in 2026 Expansion In 2026, Boeing and FASESA expand their space education programme , training over 2,000 African students in aerospace engineering design skills

In 2026, Boeing and FASESA expand their space education programme , training over 2,000 African students in aerospace engineering design skills

“With what electricity & water?” Kenyans question push for local AI data centres During the recently concluded MWC 2026 in Barcelona, Kenya’s Special Envoy for Technology to the United Nations, Philip Thigo, made a bold pitch to global investors: bring your artificial intelligence data centers to Kenya. Mr. Thigo warned that Africa risks falling behind in the next phase of the digital economy if it lacks computing infrastructure. The premise is straightforward. Kenya is already a top destination for technology in Africa, and setting up localized AI infrastructure is seen as the ultimate silver bullet to winning the continental AI race against heavyweights like South Africa and Nigeria.

Kenyans are questioning the push for AI data centres after Kenya’s tech envoy pitched the idea at MWC 2026, citing concerns over electricity costs, water use, and infrastructure readiness.

Infinix NOTE 60 Ultra launched with a 7000mAh battery, 100W fast charging, and supercar design Infinix is making a serious play for the premium flagship market. Unveiled yesterday at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, the Infinix NOTE 60 Ultra brings a wildly ambitious spec sheet to the table. Partnering with Italian design house Pininfarina, Infinix has delivered a device that not only packs a massive 7000mAh battery and multi-country satellite calling but also attempts to kill the modern camera bump. Here is everything you need to know about Infinix's boldest flagship yet. Design and display: Killing the camera bump The most striking thing about the NOTE 60 Ultra is what you…

The Infinix NOTE 60 Ultra launches with a 7000mAh battery, 100W fast wired/50W wireless charging, satellite calling, 200MP camera, 144Hz AMOLED display, and Dimensity 8400 Ultimate chip.

MultiChoice shuts down Showmax After nearly a decade of trying to build Africa’s answer to global streaming giants, MultiChoice has confirmed it will shut down Showmax, a move that brings an abrupt end to what was once positioned as the company’s biggest growth bet on the continent. The decision follows a strategic review by MultiChoice’s new parent company, Canal+, which completed its takeover of the broadcaster in 2025. In a statement to subscribers, the company said Showmax will be phased out due to substantial annual losses that have proven unsustainable in the increasingly expensive global streaming market.

Streaming platform Showmax is set to shut down after years of mounting losses, as parent company MultiChoice and new owner Canal+ rethink their streaming strategy across Africa.

China’s Huawei is the brain behind Safaricom’s Ziidi platform While Safaricom is the consumer-facing powerhouse of Ziidi, the technical backbone powering the massively successful wealth platform is built in partnership with Huawei. Yes, in case you were wondering who's the brain behind the Ziidi wealth platform that recently surpassed 4.3 million users in Kenya, well, it was co-developed by Huawei, according to details revealed during Mobile World Congress 2026. The platform, operated by Safaricom, integrates directly with M‑PESA to allow users to invest in a money market fund with a minimum deposit of KES 100. At MWC 2026, Safaricom and Huawei jointly received the GSMA Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) for the Best FinTech & Digital Commerce Innovation for the Ziidi Wealth Platform.

Huawei served as a co-developer of the Ziidi solution and a strategic partner for Safaricom’s M-PESA product ecosystem.

The Multi-Billion Mistake: How MultiChoice Sabotaged Showmax Why did Canal+ kill Showmax? MultiChoice purposefully crippled its own streaming platform to protect legacy DStv revenues, resulting in a massive financial collapse.

MultiChoice killed Showmax Pro to save DStv, trying to push users from a KES 2,100 digital app back to KES 11,700 satellite decoders.

The result? Billions lost in a single year. Showmax is now dead!

Safaricom’s Ziidi hits 4.3 million users, bags ‘Best FinTech’ award at MWC 2026 Just over a year since its introduction, Safaricom’s Ziidi MMF has completely upended Kenya’s digital investment landscape. At the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, Safaricom and Huawei were jointly awarded the GSMA GLOMO for "Best FinTech & Digital Commerce Innovation," putting a global spotlight on the product's massive local adoption. Ziidi is a money market fund service built directly into M‑PESA, allowing users to invest small amounts and earn daily returns through their mobile wallets. Ziidi has quietly amassed 4.3 million users in a remarkably short period. This is a huge jump from the 1.15 million users for the period ending September 2025 and an estimated 130,000 in September 2024, as reported by…

Ziidi, Safaricom’s M-PESA-linked money market fund, has reached 4.3 million users within months of launch, highlighting the rapid adoption of digital investments in Kenya.

GSMA launches Swahili AI reasoning model at MWC 2026 Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly around the world. But most AI systems are still built primarily for Western languages and markets. Africa wants to change that. At MWC 2026 in Barcelona, the GSMA introduced the AI Language Models Initiative, a new program aimed at developing locally relevant AI systems built in Africa, by African developers, for African users. The initiative focuses on one major problem: language. Across Africa, millions of people cannot fully access digital services because much of the internet still operates primarily in English and a handful of global languages.

The GSMA has launched an African AI Language Models Initiative, debuting an open Swahili reasoning model at MWC 2026. The project aims to build locally relevant AI trained on African languages, cultures, and real-world use cases to power the continent’s digital future.

GSMA’s $40 smartphone pilot skips Kenya: A lesson from Safaricom Neon experiment? This week at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition unveiled a major initiative: a pilot program aimed at bringing entry-level 4G smartphones to millions of Africans for just $40 (roughly KES 5,800). The coalition, which includes the G6 group of leading operators, namely Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom, identified six initial markets for the rollout: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Notice a glaring omission? Kenya isn't on the list. The staggering usage gap…

The GSMA's $30-$40 smartphones are targeting an initial six African countries, namely DRC, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Absa Visa Infinite Metal Card in Kenya: Beyond the Hardware and M-PESA Integration The Absa Visa Infinite metal card uses premium hardware to bridge global prestige, local M-PESA convenience, and frictionless consumer debt.

The Absa Visa Infinite metal card uses premium hardware to bridge global prestige, local M-PESA convenience, and frictionless consumer debt.

Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo is Here: The Chromebook Killer That Makes the iPad Air Obsolete Apple's sub-KES 80,000 MacBook Neo utilises iPhone silicon to dominate budget Chromebooks, while rendering the expensive iPad Air completely obsolete.

Apple’s new sub-80k MacBook Neo is a strategic masterstroke. Powered by iPhone silicon, it ruthlessly targets premium Chromebooks while simultaneously making the iPad Air look completely obsolete for students.

Early TECNO CAMON 50 Pro camera impressions show off insane zoom capabilities [Gallery] While the practical AI and extended software support of the new CAMON 50 series are grabbing headlines, the real story for photography enthusiasts is the hardware. Specifically, the CAMON 50 Pro and CAMON 50 Ultra, devices retailing in the regions of KES 30,000 to KES 40,000, are currently punching way above their weight class. Early hands-on impressions of the CAMON 50 Pro from Alvin (@sondesix on X) have surfaced, and the sample shots suggest that TECNO has moved past budget photography and into the realm of legitimate imaging excellence. A flagship sensor in a mid-range body…

Is the TECNO CAMON 50 Pro the new mid-range camera king? We analyze early 20x zoom samples and periscope telephoto performance.

TECNO CAMON 50 series promises 5 years of software support TECNO made a lot of noise at MWC 2026 with the CAMON 50 series launch, heavily leaning into its new practical AI features and flagship-grade camera hardware. But tucked away in the spec sheets and press releases is a software commitment that warrants a closer look: a promise of 3 generations of Android OS updates stretched over a 5-year support window. According to TECNO’s marketing pitch: “The CAMON 50 Series said we’re not upgrading every year; 5-Year, 3-Generation Android OS updates locked in. With CAMON 50 Series and built-in TECNO AI, your phone doesn’t just keep up… it levels up with you.”

The TECNO CAMON 50 Series, launched at MWC 2026, will receive three major Android OS updates over a period of five years.

TECNO CAMON 50 series goes official with triple 50MP Sony cameras & off-grid tracking Barcelona is buzzing. After completely stealing the spotlight at MWC 2026 with the impossibly thin 5.49mm Spark Slim 2 and a wild magnetic modular smartphone concept, TECNO clearly isn't taking its foot off the gas. To cap off an already aggressive showcase, the brand has just pulled the wraps off its latest imaging-focused flagship lineup: the TECNO CAMON 50 Series. Featuring the CAMON 50 Ultra 5G, CAMON 50 Pro, and the standard CAMON 50, this new lineup represents a massive leap from last year's CAMON 40 family. While the hardware sheet is undeniably stacked, the standout feature of the CAMON 50 series is what the company is calling "Practical AI", a seamless integration of professional-grade imaging hardware with intuitive, everyday artificial intelligence that actually makes sense.

TECNO has unveiled the CAMON 50 series at Mobile World Congress 2026 with a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C sensor and AI-powered imaging, setting a new camera benchmark for smartphones under $600.

Ghana Just Activated 5G. Why Their ‘Mega Mall’ Telecom Strategy Could Change Africa. Ghana’s 5G network is officially live via NGIC. Dive into why this high-stakes, shared 'neutral host' infrastructure gamble could fundamentally reshape African telecoms.

Ghana’s 5G network is officially live via NGIC. Dive into why this high-stakes, shared 'neutral host' infrastructure gamble could fundamentally reshape African telecoms.

Shrinkflation vs. Stealth Taxes: How Tech Giants are Hiding 2026 Price Hikes Global memory chip shortages are forcing smartphone brands into stealth price hikes and hardware shrinkflation. Will your favourite survive 2026?

Global memory chip shortages are forcing smartphone brands into stealth price hikes and hardware shrinkflation. Will your favourite survive 2026?

Apple’s $699 MacBook Neo could launch today Apple is reportedly taking a page out of Samsung’s playbook, and it might be the best news budget-conscious Mac fans in Kenya have heard in years. Following the recent unveiling of the MacBook M5 series, which brought double the base storage but a frustrating price hike for the MacBook Air from $999 to $1,099, rumours are reaching a fever pitch that Apple will fill the sub-$1,000 void later today with a brand-new entry-level laptop: the MacBook Neo. The MacBook Air sat comfortably at the $999 sweet spot, making it the go-to recommendation for students and professionals.

Apple is rumoured to launch the $699 MacBook Neo today. Featuring an iPhone-series chip and 5G connectivity, this entry-level Mac brings the macOS ecosystem to the price point of a mid-range Windows laptop.

Meta Ray-Ban AI Glasses under scrutiny as Kenyan workers admit reviewing intimate user footage, including sex & undressing A sweeping joint investigation published late last month by Swedish newspapers Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten has exposed a massive, hidden privacy scandal within Meta’s smart glasses ecosystem. Kenyan data annotators, employed as subcontractors in Nairobi, have revealed they are routinely required to manually review extremely intimate, unanonymized footage captured by unsuspecting users of the Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses. The disturbing testimonies describe a workforce uneasy about peering into the most private moments of users’ lives, including bathroom visits, people undressing, watching pornography, and explicitly filmed sex acts. When users stop wearing the glasses, the glasses keep recording…

A sweeping investigation reveals Kenyan contractors working under Sama review highly intimate footage, including bathroom visits and sex, captured by Meta's Ray-Ban AI glasses.

Best smartphones to buy in Kenya for KES 30,000 and below (2026 guide) Looking for the best smartphones in Kenya under KES 30,000? Here are the top phones to buy right now, including Samsung, Redmi, Vivo, OPPO, Infinix, and TECNO options for battery, gaming, cameras, and fast charging.

Looking for the best smartphones in Kenya under KES 30,000? Here are the top phones to buy right now, including Samsung, Redmi, Vivo, OPPO, Infinix, and TECNO options for battery, gaming, cameras, and fast charging.

Apple’s M5 Mac Refresh: The Stealth Price Hike, The AI Bottleneck, and the 120Hz Display We’ve Been Waiting For The M5 Mac refresh kills the $999 Air, bumping the base to $1099 but doubling storage to 512GB. Add the M5 Pro's 1TB base and a stunning 120Hz Studio Display XDR, and it’s a stealth price hike we actually needed for the AI era.

The M5 Mac refresh kills the $999 Air, bumping the base to $1099 but doubling storage to 512GB. Add the M5 Pro's 1TB base and a stunning 120Hz Studio Display XDR, and it’s a stealth price hike we actually needed for the AI era.