Tech Trends KE
TechTrendsKE is a leading Kenyan news blog that covers technology and business trends, product and service reviews in Kenya and across Africa.
Feb 17, 2026 at 02:18PM
Sport anchored pay television in southern Africa because rights ownership secured audiences. That arrangement is weakening as control over SuperSport moves from Johannesburg to decision-makers at Canal+ in Paris, placing acquisition choices within a different financial and strategic context. The change is structural rather than cosmetic. Acquisition authority once held locally now sits with executives …
The post Without Sport, DStv Has to Sell Something Else Entirely appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 17, 2026 at 01:55PM
When Nedbank moved to acquire a 66 percent stake in NCBA Group, the headline number drew attention first. Sh110.4 billion in cash and stock, valued at 1.4 times book value, stood above recent banking transactions in the region. On paper, it looked expensive. In practice, the pricing reflected something less visible than balance sheet strength. …
The post Why Nedbank Was Willing to Pay More for NCBA Group appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 17, 2026 at 01:43PM
Venture capital tends to carry a story about expansion. More deals, more founders, more ideas entering the market. Yet the numbers coming out of Kenya’s startup ecosystem in 2025 tell a more complicated story, one where funding grew in volume while narrowing in reach. Out of Sh141 billion raised by Kenya-based startups last year, Sh98.5 …
The post The Money Keeps Coming, Just Not for Everyone, as Clean Energy Firms Pull Ahead in Kenya’s Startup Race appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 17, 2026 at 12:58PM
Investment announcements tend to arrive wrapped in optimism, but timing usually tells the real story. When institutional capital enters at the Series A stage, it often means demand has moved beyond early interest and the underlying economics have begun to hold. That context sits behind the proposed equity investment of up to $5 million by …
The post Arc Ride, IFC and the Economics of E-Mobility appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 17, 2026 at 08:23AM
TikTok has significantly ramped up its content moderation efforts in Kenya, announcing the removal of more than 580,000 videos during the third quarter of 2025. The sweep, detailed in the platform’s latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, marks a decisive step in the company’s ongoing strategy to curb harmful content and safeguard its growing East African …
The post TikTok Removes Over 500,000 Videos in Kenya appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 17, 2026 at 06:34AM
The ICT Authority BoarD has announced the appointment of Jessy Kiveu Maruti as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The appointment, which follows a competitive selection process, was formalized by the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau, EGH. The appointment of Mr. Maruti marks the conclusion of a significant transition …
The post ICT Authority Appoints Jessy Kiveu Maruti as New CEO appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 17, 2026 at 06:20AM
Modernizing spectrum management could inject a massive Ksh 662 billion ($4.2 billion) into Kenya’s GDP by 2028. This is according to a roadmap presented to the country’s ICT Ministry by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) in a high-level meeting held last week. The delegation, led by GSMA’s Global Head of Spectrum, Luciana …
The post Kenya Moves to Reform Spectrum Laws to Close Rural Digital Gap appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 17, 2026 at 06:17AM
Nairobi recorded a sharp surge in ride-hailing activity over the Valentine’s Day weekend, with new data from Bolt placing Nyayo Stadium and several of the city’s leading shopping malls at the centre of mobility demand. According to internal platform data, Nyayo Stadium emerged as the single busiest destination, registering more than 4,000 completed trips to …
The post Bolt Data Maps Nairobi’s Busiest Valentine’s Routes appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 16, 2026 at 02:30PM
Kenya’s progressive advancement in the mobile money ecosystem, extensive fibre optic connectivity, and a growing tech startup culture has solidified its reputation as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah.” While at it, in the modern technological sphere data has emerged as the new gold standard and countries are now judged by their Data centre market size, which is …
The post Kenya’s Data Gold Rush: How Social Media And AI Labor Are Exposing Citizens’ Privacy appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 16, 2026 at 11:45AM
Cape Town-headquartered venture capital (VC) firm HAVAÍC has announced the third close of its US$50 million African Innovation Fund 3 (“Fund 3”). Fund 3 has now secured over US$30 million in commitments following the entry of South African impact investor E Squared Investments. Established by Allan Gray in 2007, E Squared channels catalytic capital in …
The post HAVAÍC’s US$50 Million African Innovation Fund 3 Achieves Third Close appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 16, 2026 at 11:11AM
I&M Bank Limited and Visa have announced the signing of an agreement aimed at strengthening digital payment infrastructure and expanding Visa powered products adoption in the Kenyan market. The partnership is expected to have a notable impact throughout the region, supporting both economic growth and financial inclusion. Its goals include upgrading payment systems in under-served …
The post Visa and I&M Bank Partner to Accelerate Digital Payments in Kenya appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 04:39PM
The latest price increase from Spotify settled into place with little disruption. New billing rates appeared, complaints surfaced briefly, and subscriptions continued to renew. Music streaming runs on accumulated habit. Listening histories build slowly over time, and once daily routines form, cancelling stops feeling like a simple cost decision and begins to feel like losing …
The post Apple Keeps Prices Steady While Spotify Users Decide Convenience Matters More appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 04:00PM
The story spread first through clips, then through argument. By the time officials reacted, the narrative had already hardened online. A man presenting himself as Russian, widely referred to as Yaytseslav, became the center of a controversy that moved from Accra to Nairobi and Mombasa within days. The pattern described by women and viewers was …
The post The Yaytseslav Scandal Exposes How Intimacy Became Monetized Content in Plain Sight appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 03:01PM
Digital identity infrastructure provider Identy.io has announced an expansion of its African operations, positioning itself to address one of the continent’s most persistent barriers to digital transformation: the lack of reliable, inclusive identity verification systems. The move comes at a time when financial institutions, fintechs, telecom operators, and government services across Africa are accelerating digital …
The post Identy.io Scales African Operations to Bridge the Digital Identity Gap appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 01:36PM
The upcoming launch of the Kenya National Carbon Registry lands at a moment when Kenya’s carbon market is no longer defined by ambition alone. The announcement presents a technical milestone, yet the meaning sits elsewhere. The registry arrives after several years in which projects expanded faster than the institutions meant to supervise them, and after …
The post Carbon Projects Enter A Stricter Approval Era As Kenya Formalizes Market Oversight appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 01:13PM
Mobile internet speeds in Kenya rose sharply in 2025, with average performance increasing from 21 Mbps in 2024 to 45 Mbps by year end, according to tests by Ookla. The improvement pushed Kenya ahead of Nigeria in continental rankings, reflecting faster adoption of newer networks and sustained investment in mobile infrastructure. Average mobile speeds rose …
The post Kenya’s Faster Mobile Internet Raises Expectations Across the Market appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 01:02PM
The investment showcase at the Africa Tech Summit did not feel like a parade of polished optimism. It felt closer to a working session. Founders stood before investors who had long since read the headlines about African innovation and were now drilling into something narrower. Can these ideas survive contact with everyday realities on the …
The post African Tech Founders Face Investor Pressure to Prove Adoption Beyond the Pitch Stage appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 12:32PM
On a midweek afternoon at the Moniepoint Stage, the conversation drifted toward an uncomfortable comparison. War technology attracts capital at scale. Peace technology struggles for it. No one on the panel needed to dramatize the gap. It hung there in plain view. The session, moderated by Tem Mbuh of Open Society Foundations, brought together David …
The post Peace Technology Enters Africa’s Political and Economic Reality appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 11:44AM
At the DeFi Summit during the just-concluded Africa Tech Summit, the VALR Stage was primed for another crypto pitch. Instead, Munachi Ogueke, CEO and Co-Founder of OneLiquidity, delivered something more pointed. His argument was not about tokens or price charts. It was about plumbing. Africa, he said, does not lack liquidity. It does not lack …
The post Settlement Risk and Fragmented Liquidity Define the Next Challenge Facing African Fintech Markets appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 11:27AM
Every February brings the same ritual. Dating apps see a surge of activity, hopeful conversations begin, and many users return to familiar frustrations within days. Endless scrolling promises possibility yet often produces fatigue instead. The rhythm of swiping rarely leaves room for anticipation. That backdrop helps explain the attention gathering around Date Drop, a matchmaking …
The post Valentine’s Season Exposes Growing Fatigue With Swipe Based Dating appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 14, 2026 at 11:20AM
Retail has always followed attention. The difference now is where attention settles and how long it stays there. Smartphones hold it longer than storefronts, and physical spaces are adjusting in response. Shopping is no longer only about access to goods. It is increasingly shaped by repetition, anticipation, and the small incentives that encourage people to …
The post Retail Rewards in the Age of Digital Attention appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 13, 2026 at 05:20PM
Konza Technopolis has been confirmed as an official participant in the 7 Wonders of Future Cities initiative, a global programme highlighting emerging cities and urban developments that are shaping how people will live, work and interact in the future. New7Wonders has indicated that participation in the programme is intended to promote awareness and dialogue through a …
The post Konza Listed in the Global 7 Wonders of Future Cities Initiative appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 13, 2026 at 12:28PM
Africa’s smart home market is entering a period of accelerated growth, driven by expanding connectivity, urbanization and rising demand for intelligent, energy-efficient living solutions. Valued at approximately $2.32 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $8.63 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.7 percent, the sector reflects a growing appetite …
The post LG InnoFest 2026: LG Showcases Effortless AI Home Tailored for Africa appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 13, 2026 at 10:38AM
KCB Bank has joined forces with Visa to introduce a new Business Credit Card tailored for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya. The card is designed to help entrepreneurs oversee cash flow, monitor operational costs, and manage their daily business needs more effectively. This business-focused solution provides companies with access to working capital through a …
The post KCB Bank and Visa Launch New Business Credit Card to Empower Kenyan SMEs appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 04:03PM
Odibets is redefining the Aviator gaming experience with the rollout of structured missions, race challenges and leaderboard tournaments — a move that industry observers say sets a new benchmark in Kenya’s rapidly growing crash-game segment. While the Aviator game has become a household favorite for its fast rounds and instant multiplier payouts, Odibets has gone …
The post Odibets Raises the Bar With Enhanced Aviator Missions and Competitive Challenges appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 12:35PM
LG Electronics (LG) will unveil LG ThinQ Pro, a smart home management platform designed for B2B customers, at the 2026 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) taking place from February 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA. Integrating LG’s premium built-in appliances with advanced smart home management capabilities, the platform represents a new approach to residential property management, which is particularly relevant …
The post LG Debuts LG ThinQ Pro for B2B Customers at KBIS 2026 appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 10:26AM
The conversation around African payments often begins with ambition. Integration, digital finance, continental trade. Yet the practical experience remains stubbornly physical. Money slows down at borders. Settlement stretches. Exchange rates move while transactions wait. Businesses adjust prices not because demand changes but because time does. At the Moniepoint Stage during Africa Tech Summit Nairobi, Adewale …
The post Africa Built Digital Payments. Crossing Borders Still Feels Hard appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 09:57AM
The conversation around intra-African trade often begins with scale. A continent of more than 50 countries, a combined market measured in billions of people, a policy framework intended to lower barriers. Yet trade within Africa still sits below 20%, far from the roughly 60% seen in Europe and around 50% in parts of Asia. The …
The post Fragmented Regulation Keeps African Money Moving Slowly appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 09:13AM
An email from Starlink landed in Kenyan inboxes with a firm instruction: complete identity verification in person by April 30, 2026, or risk service interruption. No hardware required. Just a government-issued ID, your phone, and a visit to an authorized retailer. For a company built on orbital infrastructure and app-based onboarding, the directive reads almost …
The post Kenya Sets April 30 Starlink ID Verification Deadline appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 08:41AM
Japanese involvement in African business followed familiar routes. Trading houses moved commodities, financed logistics, and built long commercial relationships that rarely intersected with venture capital. Technology investment came later, and when it arrived, it did not follow the pace or posture seen from Silicon Valley or European funds. The conversation at the Africa Tech Summit, …
The post African Startups Adjust to the Discipline That Comes With Japanese Investment appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 07:25AM
The conversation around climate tech in Africa has grown more grounded. Not less ambitious, but more honest about friction. At the Climate Tech and Investment Summit, the session titled What on Earth Just Hit Climate Tech — And Why We’re Still Building avoided grand narratives. The tone stayed practical. Funding numbers were mentioned, yet the …
The post Africa’s Climate Builders Confront the Limits of Pilot Funding appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 06:12AM
By late afternoon at the Moniepoint Stage, the mood felt less celebratory than reflective. That alone said something. For years, conversations around African venture capital leaned on momentum, expansion, new capital entering the market. Language has changed. Investors now speak in terms that sound closer to accounting than ambition. The session titled Investing in Africa …
The post The End of Easy Narratives in Africa Tech Investing appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 06:02AM
Last evening, the Moniepoint Stage at Africa Tech Summit moved from polite introductions to something closer to a stress test. Nonnie Wanjihia Burbidge of Enza Capital, Vladimir Dugin of E3 Capital, Lyndsay Handler of Delta40 Studio, and Joe Kinvi of Borderless were not there to trade optimism. They were there to price risk. Their firms …
The post Africa Tech Summit Investment Showcase and the End of Easy Capital appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 05:56AM
Venture capital conversations around African startups has for years leaned on expansion stories. Larger rounds, faster growth, new capital entering unfamiliar markets. The tone has changed. Money is still moving, but the language around it sounds more cautious, almost procedural. Delta40’s $20 million raise sits inside that change rather than outside it. The Kenyan venture …
The post Delta40 Raises $20 Million and Bets That Hands-On Capital Wins This Time appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 04:57AM
Circle Gas is funding a clean cooking ambition with bank debt priced above 20 percent and a carbon strategy that has yet to clear its final regulatory hurdle. That tension sits at the center of the group’s latest UK filings. Its Kenyan subsidiary, M-Gas, drew down a Sh750 million secured line from I&M Bank on …
The post Circle Gas Stakes Growth on Carbon Approval and Costly Bank Financing appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 12, 2026 at 04:39AM
When Sitoyo Lopokoiyit takes charge of Absa’s private and personal banking unit on April 1, 2026, he will be stepping into a business that sits at the core of the group’s retail ambitions across Africa. It is a move that reads less like a routine executive rotation and more like an argument about where African …
The post Sitoyo Lopokoiyit Steps Into Absa at a Decisive Moment for Retail Banking appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 11, 2026 at 05:28PM
The Simple Truth: If you can learn 10 poker hands, you can start playing with confidence. Poker isn’t as complicated as it looks—the basics take 15 minutes to understand. Poker stands apart from other casino games. Unlike slots or roulette, where you play against the house, poker pits you against other players. Skill matters. Decisions …
The post Poker in Kenya: Formats, Rules, and Beginner Guide appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 11, 2026 at 02:51PM
Agridex International has announced its partnership with Tradeflow Capital Management to focus on improving how Capital moves into agricultural and commodity trade across Kenya and other African markets with the aim of positioning in payments infrastructure as a central constraint in trade finance instead of a secondary consideration. This partnership combines Tradeflows structured trade finance …
The post Agridex Partnership Signals Shift in How Trade Finance Reaches African SMEs appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 11, 2026 at 01:50PM
Agriculture still carries the weight of Africa’s climate conversation, even when attention drifts elsewhere. At the Climate Tech & Investment Summit, the discussion returned to something less fashionable but harder to ignore. Farming remains the place where climate risk, finance, and livelihoods collide every season. Technology enters that space not as spectacle but as infrastructure. …
The post Infrastructure Defines the Limits of Agritech in Africa appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 11, 2026 at 01:14PM
The room at the AI & Digital Summit did not sound like a gathering convinced it was witnessing the future unfold in real time. The tone was more cautious than that. There was interest, certainly, and ambition, but also a recurring hesitation. People kept returning to the same underlying question without quite stating it directly. …
The post Africa’s AI Future Tests Ambition, Infrastructure, and Control of Value appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
Feb 11, 2026 at 12:51PM
By mid-afternoon at the Moniepoint Stage in Nairobi, the room had settled into a familiar rhythm. Founders talking infrastructure, investors listening for scale, operators trying to translate lived problems into systems language. Then the conversation turned inward. Not toward funding or growth curves, but toward something more basic. How people actually get paid. At the …
The post Cross Border Income Grows Across Africa as Banking Struggles to Keep PaceBanking Reality appeared first on TechTrendsKE.