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.
May 13, 2026 at 11:14AM
More than 140 young people graduated from the Huawei DigiTruck Programme in Lamu County on Monday, 11 May 2026, in a ceremony that blended milestone statistics with the kind of personal stories rarely captured in digital skills tallies. The graduation, held at the Kenya Maritime Authority Command Centre in Mokowe, made Lamu the 43rd county …
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May 13, 2026 at 10:32AM
A large section of Kenya’s banking industry went through 2025 without allocating money to research and development, according to findings released by the Central Bank of Kenya, pointing to a sector still relying heavily on established banking models and externally sourced digital systems. The regulator’s banking innovation survey showed that 44 percent of supervised institutions …
The post CBK Data Shows Digital Banking Growth Outpacing Investment in Research Teams appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 13, 2026 at 10:25AM
Vodacom reported stronger full-year earnings after growth from digital financial services and operations across multiple African markets lifted overall performance. The telecoms operator said revenue for the financial year ended March 2026 rose to ZAR167.7 billion, with customer additions and transaction activity contributing to higher income across the group. The company said its total subscriber …
The post Vodacom Expands Earnings Base Through Fintech and Regional Operations appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 13, 2026 at 10:13AM
Along Kenya’s coast, cultural barriers, limited infrastructure, and entrenched gender stereotypes have long kept girls out of STEM. Pwani Teknowgalz is changing that. TechTrends Media spoke with Deputy Director Aisha Abdulkadir Abubakar about the organisation’s model, its measurable impact, and why female representation in tech is still the defining equity challenge of Kenya’s digital economy. …
The post [Interview] Pwani Teknowgalz on Unlocking Girls’ Potential in STEM appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 13, 2026 at 09:56AM
Samsung Electronics has started rolling out the beta version of One UI 9 for the Galaxy S26 lineup, giving users early access to a redesigned interface built on Android 17. The update introduces new customization controls, expanded accessibility tools and additional protections against potentially harmful apps as Samsung prepares its next generation of flagship software …
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May 13, 2026 at 05:35AM
Vehicle owners in Kenya have less than a month to prepare for a major change in motor vehicle records after the National Transport and Safety Authority confirmed that digital logbooks will take effect from June 10, 2026. The agency has scheduled a 10-day online sensitisation programme before the transition begins, targeting sectors that regularly handle …
The post NTSA Opens Public Training Ahead of Digital Logbook Launch appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 13, 2026 at 05:21AM
African governments are beginning to frame artificial intelligence, connectivity and digital infrastructure less as isolated technology sectors and more as part of a wider economic sovereignty agenda. At the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, leaders from across the continent linked AI capacity, transport systems, energy investment and private capital mobilisation into a single development strategy …
The post Africa’s AI Ambitions Are Starting to Look Like an Infrastructure Strategy appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 13, 2026 at 05:15AM
The Kenya National Examinations Council(KNEC) will begin introducing computer-based assessments in senior schools from 2027, extending a digital testing model that has already been used in teacher training institutions. The plan places the transition to online examinations at the centre of Kenya’s broader education technology agenda, with the council arguing that digital assessment could shorten …
The post KNEC Wants Senior Schools Ready for Online Exams by 2027 appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 13, 2026 at 05:09AM
Apple is preparing another major redesign of the iPhone software experience, with iOS 27 expected to introduce a rebuilt Siri system, expanded AI search features and a more flexible Camera app for advanced users. The company is likely to present the software during its Worldwide Developers Conference scheduled for June 8. The update appears to …
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May 13, 2026 at 04:55AM
Spotify users opening the company’s mobile app this week are being given a long-range view of their listening habits as the streaming platform introduces a new anniversary feature built around account history. The rollout arrives as Spotify marks 20 years since the company was founded in 2006, ahead of the service’s wider international expansion that …
The post Spotify Turns 20 With a Personalized Look at Years of Listening Data appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 13, 2026 at 04:50AM
Google is widening the role of artificial intelligence across Android devices with new automation, creator and security tools in Android 17, while also pushing deeper into laptops through a new Googlebook platform. The announcements place the company in more direct competition with Apple ahead of expected iPhone and Siri AI upgrades later this year. Android …
The post Google Expands Gemini, Creator Tools and Security Features in Android 17 appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 12, 2026 at 06:23PM
Ride-hailing platform Bolt has increased fares in Kenya by six percent, citing sustained fuel price increases that have raised operating costs for driver partners on its platform. The company said the adjustment follows feedback from drivers who have raised concerns over the rising cost of running their vehicles. The move comes after the Energy and …
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May 12, 2026 at 02:45PM
The Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) is hosting a high-level North African innovation forum this week, positioning Kenya as a strategic corridor for startups from Tunisia and Egypt seeking a foothold in Sub-Saharan Africa. The event, IPDAYS Nairobi x Silicon Savannah Startup Fair 2026, marks the first Kenyan edition of IPDAYS (Inno’Preneurs Days), Tunisia’s premier …
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May 12, 2026 at 01:16PM
The spread of electric buses across Kenya is increasingly being determined by where charging infrastructure exists, with towns outside Nairobi beginning to emerge as key operating points for fleet movement, overnight charging and route planning. BasiGo says charging sites are already operational or under expansion in Nakuru, Nyeri, Meru and Nanyuki as the company pushes …
The post EXCLUSIVE: BasiGo’s Charging Network Is Expanding Far Beyond Nairobi appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 12, 2026 at 12:04PM
Kenya is preparing to tighten oversight of cryptocurrency trading through new tax reporting rules that would require exchanges and digital asset platforms to hand over customer transaction records to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2026 would compel virtual asset service providers to submit annual filings detailing customer activity, including …
The post KRA Seeks Annual Crypto Transaction Data From Exchanges appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 12, 2026 at 11:53AM
Africa Tech Summit London has unveiled 13 African and Africa-focused technology ventures selected to pitch at the London Stock Exchange on May 29, 2026, as the conference marks its 10th anniversary with its largest and most competitive investment showcase to date. The cohort was selected from more than 200 applications, a figure that organisers say …
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May 12, 2026 at 11:49AM
The National Treasury has defended plans to introduce a 25% excise duty on smartphones under the Finance Bill 2026, arguing that the proposal is designed to simplify taxation on mobile devices rather than increase their retail prices. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the proposed system would collapse several charges currently applied to imported phones …
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May 12, 2026 at 08:25AM
With the rapid expansion of Africa’s technology sector, particularly in digital payments, fintech, government digital services and startups, cybersecurity threats are becoming an increasingly serious concern. As businesses and governments continue to digitise operations, cybercriminals are taking advantage of weak security systems, exposing organisations and citizens to growing risks. A recent World Economic Forum Global …
The post Critical Cybersecurity Skills Gaps Threatening Africa’s Digital Growth appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 12, 2026 at 08:20AM
Stream, a Riyadh-born payments and billing platform, has raised a $5.2 million seed extension less than six months after closing its initial seed round, bringing total seed capital to $9.2 million. BECO Capital led the round, with new participation from STV, Flourish Ventures, and Arab Bank, alongside returning backers Outliers and BYLD. The speed of …
The post Stream Closes $5.2M Seed Extension to Build MENA’s Billing Infrastructure Layer appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 11, 2026 at 03:27PM
President William Ruto has approved three new laws aimed at tightening Kenya’s investment framework and expanding support for technology, manufacturing and export-driven industries. The legislation covers income tax administration, special economic zones and the creation of technopolises, adding new legal structures for investors operating in priority sectors of the economy. The bills were signed at …
The post How Kenya’s New Technopolis and SEZ Laws Could Shape Future Investment Projects appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 11, 2026 at 03:04PM
Nairobi will host the first East African edition of GITEX next week as Kenya intensifies efforts to position itself as a regional centre for artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and digital policy coordination. The event, AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya, will run from May 19 to 21 and is expected to bring together technology firms, …
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May 11, 2026 at 02:22PM
Nigeria has become the center of Jumia’s latest recovery plan as the online retailer increases product sourcing from China and restructures around lower-cost consumer demand across Africa. The company says expanding access to cheaper imported goods is helping lift order volumes while positioning the business against rapidly growing Asian competitors. Chief executive Francis Dufay said …
The post Jumia Moves Further Into China Supply Strategy As Nigeria Gains Weight In Its Business appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 11, 2026 at 01:55PM
Kenyan electric mobility companies are using the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi to pursue investor partnerships tied to charging infrastructure, vehicle financing and local manufacturing as firms accelerate expansion into rural transport markets. The two-day summit, co-hosted by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, has drawn African leaders, financiers and business executives for discussions focused …
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May 11, 2026 at 01:13PM
Nairobi’s growing role in African technology is no longer being defined only by startup growth or mobile money adoption. It is increasingly tied to a different function: acting as a meeting point where investors, governments and technology operators negotiate the next phase of African digital expansion. That broader ambition is visible in the ongoing Africa …
The post Kenya Is Turning Tech Summits Into Investment Infrastructure appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 11, 2026 at 12:23PM
Kenya’s stock market is drawing renewed participation from small investors as Safaricom’s mobile trading platform, Ziidi Trader, pushes more retail users into share trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. New disclosures from Safaricom show that 84,000 accounts bought shares through the platform between February and March, just weeks after its launch. Total registrations reached 511,000 …
The post Ziidi Trader Adds Momentum to the NSE’s Retail Investor Drive appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 11, 2026 at 12:09PM
Kenya and France have placed technology cooperation at the centre of a new round of bilateral agreements signed in Nairobi, with both governments outlining plans to work together on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data systems as Kenya pushes to expand its position as a regional technology hub. The agreements were signed on Saturday …
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May 11, 2026 at 11:51AM
Kenya has placed transport networks, artificial intelligence and industrial expansion at the centre of its agenda during the Africa Forward Summit 2026, where governments and investors are meeting to discuss the continent’s economic direction. The conference, running from May 10 to May 12, brings together political leaders, financiers, private companies and civic organisations for talks …
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May 11, 2026 at 11:25AM
The Kenyan government is proposing new tax enforcement powers that would allow the Kenya Revenue Authority to rely on a wider pool of personal and commercial data when calculating tax obligations. Provisions contained in the Draft Finance Bill 2026 would permit the authority to use information drawn from digital systems, employer filings, invoicing platforms, audits, …
The post Finance Bill 2026 Opens Door to Wider KRA Use of Payroll and Digital Records appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 11, 2026 at 11:02AM
ASUS today announced its participation at the first edition of GITEX Kenya, taking place in Nairobi from May 19-21, 2026. With its theme ‘In Search of Incredible,” ASUS will showcase its critically acclaimed portfolio of AI PCs designed to support the country’s national digital economy agenda. “We’re excited to be a part of the inaugural …
The post ASUS Showcases AI-Enabled Commercial Devices at GITEX Kenya 2026 appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 11, 2026 at 10:29AM
KCB Bank Kenya has reduced its Pesalink transaction fee to a flat KShs. 20 for transfers between KShs. 1,000 and KShs. 999,999, while making transactions below KShs. 1,000 entirely free. The changes apply across KCB’s mobile and internet banking channels. The move aligns with the industry-wide “Tuma Direct na 20/-” campaign, a coordinated push by …
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May 11, 2026 at 05:08AM
Uganda Fintech MAM Telecom Builds Out Payment Infrastructure Stack as It Eyes East African Expansion
Ugandan fintech infrastructure startup MAM Telecom Ltd is advancing a payment and settlement stack aimed at structural inefficiencies in Uganda’s mobile money ecosystem. In parallel, it is positioning its cross-border remittance platform, MAM Fex, for broader East African deployment. The infrastructure build-out spans agent liquidity management, PSP and PSO settlement rails, merchant and enterprise payment …
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May 10, 2026 at 05:14AM
The Kenya Revenue Authority says ordinary M-Pesa transfers between individuals are not part of its tax compliance monitoring systems, as the government expands scrutiny of digital business payments and undeclared income moving through mobile money channels. KRA officials say the focus remains on commercial transactions processed through PayBills and Till numbers, where businesses receive customer …
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May 10, 2026 at 05:10AM
Kenya’s capital markets regulator has warned the public against placing money in unlicensed online investment schemes as authorities respond to a growing wave of digital platforms promising fast returns through forex trading, cryptocurrency products and money market-style investments. In an investor alert issued on May 8, the Capital Markets Authority said many of the entities …
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May 10, 2026 at 05:00AM
Kenya will begin replacing paper motor vehicle logbooks with digitally generated ownership records from June 10 as the National Transport and Safety Authority expands its shift toward electronic transport services. Under the new NTSA e-logbook system, motorists completing 9 specific vehicle transactions will automatically receive updated digital certificates carrying QR-enabled verification features. The authority says …
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May 09, 2026 at 10:53AM
South Africa’s cryptocurrency market continued to expand in early 2025, with 7.8 million people using digital asset platforms during the first half of the year, according to new research from Discovery Bank. The figures point to a broader shift in how consumers are approaching savings and investment products as crypto moves further into mainstream finance. …
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May 09, 2026 at 10:46AM
A regulatory dispute in South Africa is emerging as one of the first major liabilities linked to Canal+’s takeover of MultiChoice, placing potential financial exposure on the French broadcaster only months after the acquisition closed. The South African Competition Commission said it is pursuing a case against MultiChoice and technology supplier Altech over allegations tied …
The post Canal+ Faces Financial Risk From MultiChoice Competition Case appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 09, 2026 at 10:37AM
MTN Uganda has announced its first quarterly dividend, setting a payout of 8.5 Ugandan shillings per share, equivalent to about 6.5 billion shillings in total distributions. The payment is scheduled for June 19, with eligibility limited to shareholders recorded by June 1. The telecom operator is listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange and draws investors …
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May 09, 2026 at 10:30AM
Safaricom has introduced FTTR (fibre-to-the-room) home broadband in Kenya, expanding fibre connectivity beyond a single router setup to deliver wired-grade internet access across every room in a home. The rollout reflects growing demand for home networks that can support more connected devices and bandwidth-heavy activities such as streaming, gaming, and video calls without coverage gaps. …
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May 09, 2026 at 10:18AM
Airtel Africa ended its latest financial year with revenue rising 29.5% to $6.42 billion, as higher data consumption, expanding mobile money activity, and continued network investment lifted performance across its African operations. The company is also preparing for a mobile money IPO in the second half of 2026 while warning that rising energy costs could …
The post Airtel Africa Sees Profit Surge While Mobile Money Listing Plans Return to Focus appeared first on TechTrendsKE.
May 09, 2026 at 10:08AM
Helios Towers recorded a 12% rise in first-quarter revenue to $229.2 million, supported by continued tenant additions from mobile operators expanding network coverage across key markets. The performance reflects steady demand for telecom infrastructure as data consumption grows and operators scale capacity. The company’s earnings growth was reinforced by stronger profitability metrics and ongoing contract …
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May 09, 2026 at 09:59AM
A High Court decision has exposed Safaricom to a multibillion-shilling payout after the company lost a copyright case tied to an M-Pesa product built for children and parental account oversight. The court awarded Peter Nthei Muoki and Beluga Ltd Sh1.4 billion and further ordered Safaricom to continue paying a share of M-Pesa earnings linked to …
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