M-Pesa — mobile money transfer service used for payments, remittances, and deposits across Kenya; subject of fraud schemes and merchant fee reductions by Safaricom.
… We mastered X and Y, memorised logarithms, periodic tables, and mitochondria with military precision, only to discover adulthood requires more interaction with M-Pesa... …
… Oscar Livondo was arrested by officers from the Operation Support Unit (OSU) based at DCI headquarters after investigators linked him to fraudulent transfers that drained the victim’s M-Pesa account while she was abroad. …
… 00 By Roy Ouma June 07, 2026 09:08 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize A suspected SIM-swap fraudster has been arrested for allegedly siphoning Ksh.450,500 from an unsuspecting victim's M-Pesa …
… Officials plan to launch a digital platform targeting more than 100,000 businesses by 2027 through Posta Kenya and M-Pesa infrastructure, underscoring the scale of the market and competition for entrepreneurs seeking online customers. …
… Mudavadi also showcased Kenya’s position as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah,” citing advancements in fintech and mobile innovation, including the success of M-Pesa. …
… The National Treasury is seeking to impose a 16pc VAT on services by payment service providers, including M-Pesa and Airtel Money, a 25pc excise duty on mobile phones and a withholding tax on card payments. …
… The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) want proposals such as taxing money transfers through platforms such as M-Pesa and PayPal, and the introduction of a withholding tax on bank card transactions, such as VISA card …
… ROBI, Kenya, May 21 — A tax expert has warned that proposals in the Finance Bill 2026 to impose value-added tax on digital payment platforms could reverse years of progress in financial inclusion and digital commerce by discouraging the use of mobile money services such as M-Pesa …
… According to the tax expert, taxing digital payments could reverse Kenya’s gains in financial inclusion and digital commerce by discouraging the use of mobile money platforms such as M-Pesa. …
… o position itself not just as a consumer of artificial intelligence tools developed abroad, but as a continental hub for AI entrepreneurship.Daffe noted that Nairobi has already established itself as one of Africa’s leading technology ecosystems through innovations such as M-PESA …
Stablecoin settlement firm Minisend is expanding into Kenya to connect cryptocurrency-based payments with the country's mobile-money and digital payments infrastructure. The company has been named official payment partner for the Africa Blockchain Festival 2026, and its platform enables users to receive stablecoins such as USDC and USDT and settle funds through local financial channels including M-Pesa.
Stablecoin settlement firm Minisend is expanding into Kenya to connect cryptocurrency-based payments with the country's mobile-money and digital payments infrastructure. The company has been named official payment partner for the Africa Blockchain Festival 2026, and its platform enables users to receive stablecoins such as USDC and USDT and settle funds through local financial channels including M-Pesa.
President William Ruto is attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York to promote Kenya's investment agenda across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, health, agriculture and technology. The government is pushing the proposed Sh2.2 trillion East Africa Refinery in Lamu, expected to create more than 60,000 jobs, with a planned groundbreaking set for September 30, 2026.
President William Ruto has departed for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he will champion increased investment in Africa, artificial intelligence, and reforms to the global financial system. He is expected to advocate for an "Africa-financing-Africa" approach leveraging the continent's over $4 trillion in domestic savings and assets to finance development.
Police in Garissa arrested Edwin Mugoi, accused of posing as a Safaricom agent to trick an M-Pesa shop attendant into surrendering a mobile line, which he then used to fraudulently transfer funds. Officers recovered multiple SIM cards, mobile phones, and registration gadgets suspected to have been used in the fraud scheme targeting M-Pesa agents in the area.
Live sports remain valuable assets for sustainable media globally. Kenyan broadcasters can use sports streaming to extend traditional TV and radio reach while developing new audience engagement and revenue models through mobile-centric consumption.
Two fourth-year university students charged with ten counts including conspiracy to commit a felony, possession and downloading of child pornography, and publication of child pornography have been denied bail by an Eldoret Court. Principal Magistrate Caroline Wattimah ruled against their release, citing concerns raised by the prosecution about the seriousness of the charges and their impact.
Samsung Electronics East Africa is promoting its Galaxy AI suite as a tool designed for content creators, students, and young professionals. The features include Circle to Search with Google, which allows users to identify and source items from social media by circling them on screen.
The Law Society of Kenya has vowed to oppose a proposal by the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority requiring lawyers to declare assets held on behalf of clients for more than five years and surrender them to the State if unclaimed. LSK President Charles Kanjama said lawyers have their own ways of managing client assets and do not need external assistance.
Three men aged 17 and 21 were arrested in Ruai for operating an anonymous TikTok page to lure women to secluded areas for robbery and sexual assault. The suspects forced some victims to transfer money via M-Pesa and robbed others of mobile phones and valuables.
Members of Parliament have called for an investigation into Safaricom's practice of deactivating dormant SIM cards and reassigning the numbers to other subscribers, citing concerns that the practice could expose customers to fraud, loss of funds, and unauthorized access to personal information. The petition, referred to the Public Petitions Committee, will examine whether the practice complies with consumer protection, data privacy, and financial asset management laws.
India is Kenya's third largest trading partner with bilateral trade of $4.31 billion in the financial year 2025-26, according to the India High Commission to Kenya. The article argues Kenya has not fully leveraged Indian proximity and economic power as a potential key trade and investment partner.
Global ticketing company Ticketmaster is entering East Africa through its Quicket platform, which offers digital ticketing, local payment integrations with M-Pesa, MTN Mobile Money, and Airtel Money, and global event distribution across Spotify, Google, Meta, Bandsintown, and Apple Music.
Major technology companies including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta are spending approximately Sh94 trillion on AI infrastructure this year alone, though only 39 per cent of organisations report measurable financial impact from AI investments, according to a McKinsey 2025 survey.
Safaricom PLC held a Pata More campaign event at Nakuru Railway Station Grounds to promote new services and offers to its more than 71.6 million customers in Kenya. CEO Peter Ndegwa said the nationwide campaign aims to deliver greater value through telecommunications and financial services, with a caravan expected to cover all 47 counties.
Web3 adoption in Africa is driven by practical financial benefits rather than cryptocurrency enthusiasm: faster, cheaper payments for remittances, farm supplies, and land ownership without middlemen. Sub-Saharan Africa received over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, with Nigeria leading at $92.1 billion.
Kenya has pioneered digital innovation in Africa through M-Pesa, smartphones, digital banking and online government services, transforming how people learn, work, communicate and conduct business, though the article suggests these advances carry hidden social costs.
Pepeta has introduced a new Airtel Money Paybill Number (779900) for Kenyan players to deposit funds into their accounts, complementing its existing M-PESA payment option and providing a faster, more convenient deposit experience.
Samsung Electronics has partnered with local retailer Housewives Paradise to launch the Samsung Brand Store, a mobile-focused digital platform designed to reach Kenyan shoppers. The platform offers exclusive inventory, curated product bundles, and extended warranties to deepen customer relationships in a market with growing mobile internet penetration.
A diaspora perspective argues that Kenya has built credible foundations but sits in the lower-middle-income bracket and is not yet ready to achieve first-world living standards, which require high per-capita income, reliable utilities, functional healthcare, competitive education, low corruption, and functional infrastructure.
Safaricom has reduced charges on transferring funds from M-Pesa business tills to mobile wallets and Paybill numbers by as much as 50 per cent, effective 7 August 2026, aligning with Central Bank of Kenya pricing principles and providing relief for small traders and consumers.
Safaricom shareholders approved a final dividend of Ksh.1.15 per share for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, bringing the total annual dividend to Ksh.2.00 per share—the largest payout in the company's history. The announcement comes as Safaricom's share price rose 50.3 per cent during the year, lifting the company's market value to Ksh.1.10 trillion by March 31, 2026.
Safaricom is investing billions of shillings to embed artificial intelligence into its products and services across financial services, healthcare, content streaming, agriculture, and government payments, as part of a strategy to transition into Africa's leading AI-driven technology service provider by 2030.
Kenya's over 250 licensed digital credit providers have grown to a loan book exceeding microfinance banks' portfolios, with around eight million Kenyans using their phones for credit. Digital lenders assess borrowers on real-time behavioural signals and transaction patterns rather than historical documents, a method the article argues proves more effective than traditional credit committee approaches.
South African companies are increasing their stake in Kenya's financial sector through investments in NCBA, Safaricom, and Absa Bank Kenya, after previous retail ventures like ShopRite and Massmart failed in the market.
More Kenyan gamblers are moving to platforms licensed in Norway, drawn by what they describe as fairer odds, transparent terms, and tax-free winnings, reflecting awareness of regulation and player protection.
Esther Waititu, Safaricom's Chief Financial Services Officer, has spoken publicly following her departure announcement, saying "the time feels right for a new chapter" after nearly three years leading the company's financial services business, which includes M-PESA.
SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority data shows regulated saccos disbursed Sh2.79 billion in medical loans in Q1 2026, a 31 per cent increase from Sh2.13 billion in Q1 2025. This opinion piece argues the surge reflects weakened community safety nets and signals a troubling shift in the cooperative movement's role away from building economic resilience toward managing immediate healthcare crises.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom PLC to Vodacom as an "economic abduction," raising concerns over transparency, valuation, and constitutional compliance, and questioning why the sale was completed while a constitutional petition remained pending before the High Court.
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi hosted a reception marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, bringing together Kenyan government officials, diplomats, and business leaders to celebrate shared democratic values, innovation, and trade partnerships.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has welcomed the Trump administration's shift in U.S.-Africa policy from aid-focused to trade and investment-driven, and said Kenya looks forward to concluding negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.