Kenya is called the “Silicon Savannah”. Despite its relatively small local market, Kenya takes on a leading tech start-up nation role with US$ 147 Million raised in 2016. 

Kenya’s tech ecosystem has developed largely due to the success story of the mobile wallet M-Pesa launched in Kenya in 2007, with many companies trying to replicate its success. M-Pesa has revolutionised the way people spend, save and send money in Kenya, making the society cashless.

Kenya hosts one of the most famous incubators in Africa, the iHub. Founded in 2010 and based in Nairobi, it aims to develop the local tech innovation culture, connecting people and organizations. 

The government supports the development of Kenya as a tech innovation hub  with the construction of Konza Techno City. Designed in 2012, the construction of Konza City is still in progress and aims to become a outsourcing tech hub, data center and software development center. 

“Solar as a service” is giving millions of Africans in remote locations access to electricity via portable solar panels, controlled – and paid for – via mobile phones.

4 companies out of the top 10 African companies in this sector are from Nairobi.

A simple product – a solar unit sold on credit – has become the gateway to financial services for millions of off-the-grid customers, all because it offered customers something they really wanted: light.

Some inspiring players in this growing market are :
– PAYGo, which installs solar home systems  for a down payment. The customer pre-pays for energy usage through their mobile wallet.
– M-Kopa, backed by the entrepreneurs behind M-Pesa. M-Kopa has connected more than 600,000 homes across East Africa.
– SunFunder, which provides financing to off-grid solar businesses.